Renovations Underway at Bangs Community Center

Source: amherstma.gov

The Town of Amherst has begun work to renovate the Bangs Community Center located at 70 Boltwood Walk. The building will remain open and accessible throughout construction though sections of the building will be off-limits during certain construction activity. Completion is expected in early 2027. 

This renovation project involves health and safety improvements, including a new sprinkler system, electrical upgrades, HVAC improvements, and ensuring full access throughout the building to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). In addition, there will be small but noteworthy improvements to the Amherst Senior Center and the area adjacent to Room 101.  

Town Manager Paul Bockelman said, “The Bangs Community Center is one of the town’s most heavily used buildings and houses some of the town’s important departments. These improvements will address some of the long-standing issues to ensure the health and safety of those who use the building. We apologize for the inconvenience the work will cause and thank our town staff and others for their cooperation and flexibility throughout the process.” 

The Bangs Community Center is home to numerous town departments including the Public Health Department, Senior Services, Veterans Services, Department of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI), and Community Responders for Equity, Safety, & Service (CRESS). Also located here are the Civil War Tablets Exhibit and the Musante Health Center. It serves as a location for voting, veterans breakfasts, senior center programming, and many meetings for the town and the broader community. 

To minimize disruption and enable the continued use of the building during construction, improvements will be completed in multiple phases. The first phase of work is underway in the lower/basement level of the building and will continue into early March of this year.  

The second phase of work will be on the 2nd floor, requiring staff in the DEI and CRESS Departments to temporarily relocate to the lower level. These renovations are anticipated to start in late March and will continue until at least the middle of June. Upon completion of this phase, the DEI and CRESS Departments will be relocated back to their offices on the 2nd floor. 

Next, the renovations will focus on the 1st floor with construction where the Senior Center and Public Health Department are located. These renovations are expected to continue through November. The final phase of the project will include renovations of the large activity room, which will likely extend into January 2027. To minimize disruptions to Senior Services programs, construction will be phased strategically. The town and the Senior Center will provide updates regarding any impacted programs/services during this time.  

Information regarding the timing of future phases will be better known after the first phase of work is complete, and updates will be provided when available. The project costs approximately $2.8 million and is being funded by Federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds set aside for this purpose. The improvements were designed by edmSTUDIO with the assistance of Tighe & Bond and work is being completed by Souliere & Zepka Construction.