Tom Lathrop, operations director of the Colorado Springs Senior Center, is a fan of the Indy 500. But these days, he’s involved in a race of another kind: overseeing the construction of the highly anticipated Colorado Springs Senior Center.

Although the timeline for building projects is notoriously fickle, progress has been consistent. Lathrop, 57, is hoping for a grand opening in August.

Though the senior center had moved out of the building on Hancock Avenue in June of 2023, for months afterward, some saw it vacant but still standing and wondered if any forward movement was occurring. 

Demolition of the old Colorado Springs Senior Center at 1514 N. Hancock Ave. started in June 2023.

“They had to get all the hazardous material out. That took a good portion of the year before they could finally demolish the old building,” Lathrop said. 

With the abatement finally complete, it was full speed ahead.

“Once we got the okay and they demolished everything, it was quick. July 2024 was the groundbreaking ceremony,” Lathrop said. 

Construction continues at a steady pace. Lathrop visits the site weekly to monitor its progress. 

“They are working on the brickwork on the outside of the building, and inside, it’s all framed out,” Lathrop said. 

Insulation is next, followed by drywalling.

“Once it’s enclosed, you get a better feel for the size of the rooms,” he said.

CHANGES FOR THE BETTER

The differences between the old and new buildings are striking. 

“The biggest complaint from seniors was about the parking,” Lathrop said. “Seventy spots were not enough for larger events like meals.” 

The center also had to share the lot with other businesses in the area. This meant some had to park on the street and walk farther. 

The new center will have “triple the amount of parking,” Lathrop said, including ADA spots and two with plug-ins for electric vehicles. 

The entrance will be covered to make drop-offs easier. 

“People won’t be out in the weather,” Lathrop noted. 

An inviting patio with a scenic view is situated outside the building’s warmer south side. It offers abundant seating, with the old lobby’s beams repurposed into outdoor benches. Completing the exterior is an area designated for pickleball courts.  

Overall, the new Colorado Springs Senior Center will have 23,000 square feet vs. the former building’s 17,000. A spacious and modern lobby with ample seating will greet visitors as they enter.

Inside, the hallways will be wider and there will still be handrails. Plenty of seating throughout the building will provide rest or areas for conversation. 

There will be two sets of restrooms instead of just one, with a no-door “maze” entry for easy access. Handicapped stalls will have sinks directly inside for convenience. 

The multipurpose room will be sufficiently larger, with the ability to halve it into two classrooms with a divider. The stage will be a welcome addition for performances. 

Cooking demos may take place in the new kitchen. Lathrop hopes Silver Key can dish up food there instead of handing out prepackaged meals. 

Overall, the new center will have 23,000 square feet vs. the former building’s 17,000.

“We’re obviously going to have way more activities,” Lathrop said. 

The center regularly hosted 300-400 people per day, with 75 at an average Silver Key meal. Then the pandemic hit, and programs were moved online. The center only had a year of in-person gathering in the old building before vacating it for the demolition. Farming out the classes and activities proved challenging.

“Our thinking was, let’s make the senior center available in multiple locations—but it was hard for the volunteers. We realized we shouldn’t be spreading ourselves so thin,” Lathrop said. 

They now use the Downtown YMCA and the Westside Cottages, which the city helped them secure for lectures and larger classes. 

“We don’t have our own building, so we don’t have a place for people just to hang out. That has been the hardest part of being separated out during this time. I hate not being that place for people,” Lathrop lamented. 

Clearing up misconceptions about the center is part of Lathrop’s work. It’s not a respite center and seniors don’t live there. It’s about community and “feeling useful,” he said.

For him, the senior center is about saving people from despair, loneliness and social isolation.

“If we’re going to have some kind of longevity to our lives, we need to be around others and active. Doing your own thing, being by yourself and not connecting is not a healthy way to live,” he said.

CITY PRIORITIZES THE CENTER

Lathrop is grateful for the city’s support. 

“Mayor Suthers and now Mayor Yemi Mobolade will definitely be seen as the mayors who brought the center to the city, as they should—it is a taxpayer project,” Lathrop said. 

Though the city owns the building, Lathrop is involved in planning meetings with the architect and builders. 

Colorado Springs Senior Center Operations Director Tom Lathrop

He was formerly the center’s business coordinator. When the director position opened, he sensed it was time to step up. The YMCA agreed and he assumed director responsibilities in March 2023.

When pricing classes, Lathrop considers that seniors are on a fixed income. 

“I still want to make it as affordable as we can,” he said, and resists charging a monthly fee.  

“Seventy-five percent get a scholarship anyway. We want to make sure everybody is included. It’s for all,” Lathrop emphasized. “We only ask that you be at least 55.” 

The senior center has come a long way since its beginning as a remodeled grocery store, spearheaded by Nancy Lewis in 1986.

Former director Lyndsey Pouncey and architects visited senior centers along the Front Range to gather ideas. By the time Lathrop started as director, the general design of the building was in place. 

“But the staff and I could choose doors, colors and material for the furniture,” Lathrop said. “We could figure out details like, are these chairs comfortable? Do we want arms on some of the chairs? Should they swivel?” 

It’s all part of preparing for opening day. It will be more than two years since the Colorado Springs Senior Center had a permanent home, and those who operate and use it are beyond ready to abandon their nomadic lifestyle to be “all together in one place”—complete and operational.

For more information, contact the senior center at 719-955-3400 or 719-209-1717.