The Juanita Pohl Center’s recent renovation, which began in early April, is complete. The center officially reopened on June 1 and held its “grand reopening” on June 12.
“With the carpet and the new paint on the wall, there’s three different colors,” Juanita Pohl Center Supervisor Sara Sheperd told Tualatin Life. “We got new sliding doors. In the past, we had push-buttons; they would pull them open, and they were heavy…Now, as soon as they come up to the doorway, they will automatically open for them.”
The center was updated with automatic sliding doors at the entrance, new doors in the common area, wider stalls and refurbished tile in the bathrooms. The renovations also included new carpet, blinds, paint and LED lights.
Construction improved the center’s ADA accessibility and kept the building closed for a little over two months. Renovation costs totaled $335,000.
The $335,000 price tag was paid for by both Community Block Grant Funding, which covered $220,000, and Tualatin’s general fund.
Sheperd said that the few reactions she had received about the updated space were “very positive.”
“They really like it, they like the colors and that it’s more modern,” Shepherd said. “It’s just very, very updated.”
A couple months ago, the main room of the Juanita Pohl Center had an entirely different color scheme, and Shepherd said the new blue, black and grey design had successfully spruced up the aesthetic of the shared space.
“It looks really sharp,” Shepherd said.
One of the most significant renovations, which aimed to make the center more accessible to all attendees, was reshaping the center’s restrooms. The new bathrooms feature more spacious stalls, which offer increased mobility.
“We got a new floor, new tile on the walls, brand new countertops and sinks,” Shepherd said. “The stalls were widened so that there’s more room for people in there.”
Senior center regulars commemorated the facility’s facelift on Saturday, June 12, by dining on a continental breakfast, sipping mimosas and playing pool. Most members noted that the new ceiling lights were one of the standout renovations.
“It’s so much brighter,” Linda Lou Sutton said. “Compare this room to that room.”
Other attendees noted improvements, such as the refurbished bathrooms and the accessibility of the new automatic entrance doors.
“The new restrooms are gorgeous,” Patty Fowlds said. “It’s like a five-star hotel.”
“The doors are nice because you don’t have to push the button,” said Mel Sutton.
The Juanita Pohl Center is home to a diverse variety of local groups and programs, and while construction work was underway, many of the center’s regulars had to relocate their activities to the Van Raden Center and said they were thankful to be back at the legitimate location.
“I’m glad it’s open again because over there (the Van Raden Center) it was not so fun,” Leeann Sutherland said. “I like the color changes, I like the bright open feeling that it has.”
The Juanita Pohl Center is open 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. More information on groups and events is available at tinyurl.com/52fs3pc7.
