Township officials marked a major construction milestone Feb. 18 as the final structural beam was signed and lifted into place at the new Ewing Senior & Community Center.
The topping out ceremony signifies completion of the structural frame of the 70,000-square-foot facility now rising at 999 Lower Ferry Road. Officials expect the new center to open in late 2026.
Township leaders, regional officials and community partners gathered to sign the final beam before it was raised into position above the structure, marking the transition from structural work to interior construction.
Among those offering remarks were Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman; state Sen. Shirley Turner; Council Vice President Sarah Steward; Mercer County Executive Dan Benson; Mercer County Commissioner Chair Terrance Stokes; and DIGroup Architecture President Vincent Myers. Ewing Business Administrator Aaron T. Watson served as master of ceremonies.
Additional attendees included Council members Kathleen Wollert and Jennifer Keyes-Maloney; County Clerk Paula Sollami-Covello; Commissioner Lucylle Walter; Joanne Durham of the Ewing Historic Preservation Society; and representatives from Mercer ARC, Kidsbridge, Ewing Seniors and The College of New Jersey.
Members of the Ewing Fire Department signed the beam before it was lifted into place. Shortly afterward, firefighters were called away to respond to an emergency.
The milestone marked the latest step in a rebuilding effort that began more than three years ago after a catastrophic five-alarm fire in September 2022 destroyed the center’s gymnasium and heavily damaged the remainder of the building. The fire caused a partial roof collapse and was determined to have started in the gym.
The damage rendered the facility unusable. The ESCC and its outdoor amenities were closed indefinitely, and most programs and offices, including Community Affairs and Recreation and the Senior Office, were relocated to the Hollowbrook Community Center.
“My commitment is to rebuild it and rebuild it better than it was,” Mayor Bert Steinmann said shortly after the fire.
In early 2023, Steinmann said the township would proceed with a total rebuild rather than attempt to salvage portions of the structure. The building required asbestos remediation prior to demolition to avoid significantly higher disposal costs if the entire site were deemed contaminated.
Before the fire, the center operated daily from early morning until late evening, serving seniors, youth leagues, recreation programs and community groups. Township officials said the building had already been stretched to capacity, prompting plans for a larger replacement.
Temporary space for programs was secured through partnerships with the Ewing school district, which provided facilities for basketball and indoor soccer, and Fisher Middle School, which hosted summer camps. The Marie Katzenbach School, local churches and The College of New Jersey also assisted in accommodating displaced activities.
In August 2023, township officials announced the receipt of $5 million in state funding for reconstruction, added to the 2023 state budget following requests from state Sen. Shirley Turner and local assembly members.
Architectural renderings prepared by DIGroup Architecture were unveiled at that time, showing exterior concepts for a modernized facility designed to complement the site’s history as the former Trenton Jewish Community Center and its proximity to the Louis Kahn bathhouses.
In December 2024, the Ewing Township Council voted to award a $34 million construction contract to Benjamin R. Harvey Co. of Ocean Township following a competitive bidding process.
Township officials said more than $19 million of the project cost had already been secured through insurance and grants. The council authorized bonding of up to $27 million, though officials have indicated the final borrowing amount is expected to be closer to $20 million. As older bonds retire, new debt associated with the project is expected to replace them, stabilizing overall debt service and minimizing tax impact.
Groundbreaking took place March 5, 2025, marking the formal start of construction. Steinmann described the new facility at that ceremony as a transformation that would provide expanded space for seniors, youth and community groups.
The new building is designed at approximately 70,000 square feet and will include a larger gymnasium configured as one-and-a-half courts to allow multiple activities simultaneously, an elevated indoor walking track, creative arts spaces, a black box theater, a sound studio, meeting rooms, a café and a banquet hall capable of accommodating approximately 125 to 150 people. An indoor pool was considered but ultimately removed from the design due to size and operational constraints.
The project is being constructed under a Project Labor Agreement to ensure union labor and skilled craftsmanship. DIGroup Architecture is serving as architect, and Remington & Vernick Engineers is acting as owner’s representative.
When completed, township officials say the new Ewing Senior & Community Center will once again serve as a central hub for seniors, families, youth programs and community organizations throughout the township.
An architectural rendering of the new Ewing Senior and Community Center.,
