By Jack DeGange

If a camel is a horse designed by a committee, then a building designed by a committee is especially risky business.

In the case of Hanover’s new Richard W. Black Community & Senior Center, numerous risks and challenges of “building by committee” have evolved into the opportunity for innumerable rewards for residents spanning the age spectrum.

It’s taken 15 years to make Hanover’s newest community resource a reality. Projects like this are the result of factors that are best measured by taking these words and, for emphasis, think of them in triplicate:

Discussion. Listening. Generosity. Planning. Patience. Compromise. Vision. Cooperation.

And let’s not forget the realtor’s credo: Location, location, location.

No one knows this better than Marilyn (Willy) Black who served on the first committee (1988) to explore plans for a community center—and on every subsequent committee for the building that opened its doors in July.

Willy isn’t related to Kathryn Black, a long-time Hanover resident whose naming gifts in memory of her husband, Richard W. Black, a Dartmouth College alumnus and football captain, totaled about $550,000. Mrs. Black’s generosity set the pace among leadership donations that combined with gifts as small as $10 from over 450 individuals and businesses that totaled nearly $1.25 million.

Bond issues and other appropriations approved at several town meetings provided the balance of funds for the $2.86 million project.

A retired kindergarten and art teacher at Hanover’s Ray School, Willy was a charter member of the Hanover Recreation Board (1974) and a member of Hanover’s Board of Selectmen for more than two decades. She has been recognized as the National Teacher of the Year and as Hanover’s Citizen of the Year.

In Hanover, Willy Black is the living, breathing definition of “community.” She understands the needs of kids and senior citizens but she’s first to point out that this project is the result of many, many people working for many, many years.

“It was an amazing process,” Black wrote in Hanover’s 2002 annual report. “In the beginning everyone was territorial and in the end everyone worked with mutual respect for everyone’s needs. There were a number of compromises reached to create a wonderful facility that will meet the needs of Hanover citizens of every age from toddlers to seniors.”

“…There were a number of compromises reached to create a wonderful facility that will meet the needs of Hanover citizens of every age from toddlers to seniors.” – Willy Black

Those words reflect Hanover’s community spirit that has been at work for many years. It’s the foundation of a project that has been given its shape during the past year by a construction team managed by Trumbull-Nelson and architect Peter Tennant of Tennant/Wallace, Manchester, N.H.
The site, created with the purchase of two pieces of residential property between Lebanon and South Park streets near Hanover High School, was attractive because of its in-town location and especially because it’s adjacent to the 24 units that comprise Hanover’s senior housing complex.

“We worked closely with the Senior Center to make sure everyone was happy,” said Hank Tenney, Hanover’s director of parks and recreation.

Added Sue Young, a long-time member of the Parks and Recreation Board, “It’s been a cooperative effort involving the senior and recreation-youth communities. Hanover has always been a team-oriented community. Along with all the volunteer interest and support Tenney said, “(Town Manager) Julia Griffin’s leadership was fantastic. She told us, ‘This is going to work. Make it happen.’ ”

But it’s been a daunting project. The site’s shape required that the building take the form of a narrow isosceles triangle, tucked between two of Hanover’s busiest streets.

Young recalled meeting with one (of four) architects interviewed who said the building, as envisioned, couldn’t be done. “That was a short meeting,” said Young.

Conversely, Willy Black describes Pete Tennant as “the most flexible architect I’ve seen in my life. The man has no ego. He listened hard and never said that something wouldn’t work. This is a building designed by a committee that has met the needs of everybody. We were lucky to have Pete make it work.”

The Trumbull-Nelson team led by project manager Ken Merrow and superintendent Dave Stanley made it happen. Given the site limitations, movement of construction equipment and materials was a constant juggling act. T-N’s construction team managed the challenges to perfection.

“Putting the building on this site and making it work is beyond my expectations,” she added. “I was really impressed with Trumbull-Nelson. This was a difficult site because of its size and the surrounding streets and traffic.” Sue should know: Her husband, Tracy, was a member of T-N’s management team for many years.

“With Ken as the project manager there was no waiting for information about changes or pricing as the job progressed,” said Black. “Things worked smoothly throughout the project.”

That included T-N’s coordination with Janet Harkins of Stibler Associates in Manchester who managed the building’s interior color schemes, finishing and furnishings. Plus, all of the building’s cabinetry was built to fit a variety of configurations by T-N’s millwork shop.

As the site superintendent, Stanley (a Hanover High graduate) also proved invaluable as the project’s “information man.” “He worked especially hard to keep the senior housing residents informed about all activity,” said Young. “He made sure they knew about unusual noise or congestion so there were no surprises or concerns.

“It was a very open construction site. If anyone wanted to visit, they were told, ‘Go to the trailer and get a hard hat.’ Dave gave a lot of impromptu tours to community members.”

That good will had its rewards. While Willy Black made weekly deliveries of doughnuts, about 30 members of the construction crew got a special treat when they were guests of the seniors for Thanksgiving turkey dinner.

That dinner was held in the old Senior Center, a slightly oversize house that has been used for about 30 years but will be removed and replaced by half of the new Center’s 38 required parking spaces.
The new Black Center comprises about 22,700 square feet spread over two stories and a full basement. The north entrance to the “senior” end of the building is adjacent to the senior housing complex. The south entrance leads to the building’s “community” area.

“The building’s exterior has been designed to blend into the neighborhood (the clapboards are actually made of cement that are fire resistant and low maintenance),” said Young, “and inside there’s no wasted space. We’ve used virtually every nook and cranny.

The Center’s first floor features a large multi-purpose room that can be separated from a dining room and kitchen by a sliding wooden partition. Located throughout the building, which is wired for computer stations, are lounge and meeting rooms plus rooms for senior, recreation and community activities including crafts and other interests. The basement will be used primarily for recreation equipment storage.

Plus, offices for the town’s senior, recreation and community counseling administrators, bringing these resources to a single, convenient location.

Black noted especially the second floor Community Service Room. “It’s a special asset that we’ve not had before,” she said. “It will have carrels and working space for non-profits like Youth In Action and other groups.

“The entire senior end of the Center can be separated by design or opened and used with other community space. Having a facility like this creates a balance of programs that builds mutual respect between recreation and senior groups.”

The biggest challenge: How to use the building. “How we respond will determine the building’s success,” said Tenney. “It can’t be compared to the buildings it replaces (the Senior Center on Lebanon Street and the Community Center, a house on School Street that has housed Parks and Recreation for about 20 years).

“It’s a whole new world and one that we welcome.”

The Richard W. Black Community & Senior Center has been 15 years in the making. Willy Black has been there from the beginning and expects the building to be oversubscribed from Day One. Reflecting on countless hours of invested to make this new resource come to life, she echoed the feelings of countless members of the community and the construction team that made it happen: “It’s been fun.”