Roxbury Boys & Girls Club gets a facelift

Serghino René

Th e Roxbury Boys & Girls Club has graced the Dudley Square area and neighboring communities since 1968, offering a safe haven for youth between the ages of 6 and 18. Time had taken a toll on the aging building, which Roxbury Boys & Girls Club Executive Director Andrea Swain said was often mistaken for a factory by onlookers.

For years, Boys & Girls Club members and staff were forced to make due without air conditioning, adequate programming space or handicap accessibility. Thankfully, those days are over.

The desperately needed renovations began last October, and this weekend, the Roxbury touchstone is scheduled to reopen as the Yawkey Club, in deference to the Yawkey Foundation, a supporter of numerous organizations around the city that provided $4.5 million towards project costs.

The project totaled $8 million and was funded by 12 private donors in conjunction with a grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The new 43,000 square foot facility is state of the art and has been enhanced for safety and member efficiency, as well as for more improved and innovative programming.

“It’s all about investing in the community, helping teens build life skills and preparing them to be the next leaders. We want to have a holistic impact for young people,” said Swain.

While its equipment and features may be new, the Yawkey Club will continue to be a social resource for the community. The Club presently serves 2,600 youth, but thanks to the recent renovations, it will be able to accommodate a membership increase of 30 percent — adding up to about 200 teens and 100 youth. Swain said rolling membership will be in effect for teens because a large portion of the new facility is dedicated to them.

“The more teens we can get off the street, the better,” said Swain.

The new designated space includes a teen center, teen education center, a conference room for meetings and functions and a fitness center. Other improvements include a school-age child care center, a computer room, visual arts room, an auditorium, a commercial kitchen and many more amenities.

Some improvements include improved fire protection, all-new windows and new electrical, mechanical and plumbing systems. Some exterior changes include improved parking, new landscaping and a baseball field. Environmental measures were considered as well. The Club integrated solar panels for electricity and water, maximized natural lighting and rubber and marmoleum flooring instead of carpeting, making cleaning easier and helping to improve air quality for kids with asthma.

Portions of the club, such as the kitchen, gym and performing arts center have been named in honor of those who contributed to the project.

The Yawkey Club will celebrate its grand reopening starting at noon this Saturday.