Chapter 4
d. Re-using Existing Facilities
In a consolidated CAC, many of the programmed activi-
ties require specialists on a supervisory, non-resident
basis only, and can largely be staffed by support staff
Considerations of renovation and re-use of existing struc-
with training in several technical areas. Under the con-
tures for Community Activity Centers apply both to
solidation concept, the roles of the support staff should
existing MSA facilities and to buildings previously utilized
be expanded to include operation and supervision of
for other functions. Both may provide rapid and econom-
appropriate aspects of the specialized MSA programs,
ical means of satisfying the major needs of the
such as light crafts and household repair activities, sports
community.
not requiring instruction, and musical instrument
Many well-designed recreation centers, gymnasiums, arts
checkout.
and crafts centers, and libraries already exist on many
Community Activity Centers will also have facility man-
posts. When accompanied by music, theatre, commer-
agement staff in addition to technical program specialists
cial and other missing community functions accommo-
and support staff. The CAC management staff will be
dated through renovations or additions, these existing
professional personnel assigned to the management of
buildings can serve as excellent Community Activity
these multipurpose facilities.
Center complexes. If located nearby, enclosed linkage
between the buildings may be possible. This approach
The less specialized a facility is, the more easily it can
is often more cost effective than new construction.
be operated with support staff and fewer personnel.
Additionally, support staff are more readily available and
As posts expand and contract, their needs change and
less costly than technical program specialists. Hence,
buildings inevitably become available for new uses.
using more support staff will allow centers to operate
Many excellent permanent buildings, whether or not for-
more economically and stay open longer. However, pro-
merly used for community purposes, may be renovated
gram quality will be lowered if technical program special-
to provide more cost-effective accommodation of commu-
ists are not used to staff appropriate activities.
nity activities than new construction.
In programming Community Activity Centers, it is the less
In programming existing facilities for re-use, the projected
specialized activities which are most readily consolidated.
Community Activity Center functions and programs may
Local Centers are typically less specialized. For instance,
need modification. Some activities may not be possible
arts and crafts areas would have self-directed handicrafts
to accommodate, and consolidation of additional func-
-leatherworking, macrame, sewing classes, model-mak-
tions may be suggested by the available spaces. The
ing - but not heavy woodworking equipment. Less spe-
existing space pattern may limit some of the openness
cialized activities, that do not require technical equip-
and internal accessibility that permits coordinated pro-
ment, can more readily share general purpose spaces
gram operation and staffing.
with other activities. Local Centers with some special-
However, the use of existing space may be coordinated
ized activities might include a swimming pool or gymna-
with a process of phased construction, in order to pro-
sium near social recreation spaces, permitting supervi-
vide services quickly and to take advantage of small
sion of both with fewer staff and fewer program spe-
sources of funding. Programming for re-use of existing
cialists. In programming these centers, consideration
facilities must be particularly flexible in order to make the
should be given to the potential savings in shared activity
best match between available space and service needs.
and/or support space, in numbers of staff and increased
use of support staff, and gains in longer operating hours,
that can result from consolidation.
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