SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — Join your South Orange neighbors at a town hall-style meeting to hear highlights of the Baird Community Center renovation and share your thoughts and comments on the future design of the building on Wednesday, June 13, at 7 p.m. at the Baird, 5 Mead St. in South Orange.
The village of South Orange is beginning to plan for the renovation of the Baird Community Center, home of the Department of Recreation & Cultural Affairs. The village has hired the Biber Partnership AIA, an architectural firm out of Summit, to work with village administration and staff in developing a plan for the reconstruction of the facility. Representatives from the Biber Partnership, village administration, government and department staff will be on hand at the meeting to discuss the project and take input from residents. Residents interested in touring the facility are welcome to come as early as 6:30 p.m.
Prior to June 13, village officials will be meeting with various interest and user groups to gather information and better understand the primary functions of the building and the activities that take place throughout the year. These groups will review current building conditions and operations and outline future needs and goals for the newly renovated space. The June 13 meeting will be the the opportunity for all interested organizations and individuals to offer their thoughts and comments on the future design of the building, taking into consideration community needs for the facility.
The village plans to keep the following guiding principles in mind as it moves forward with the Baird renovation: renovating the Baird in the most cost-effective manner possible, prioritizing building stability, health and life-safety considerations while maintaining the historic character of the building; and seeking to make improvements to enable the highest level of customer service by creating adaptable and versatile spaces for a variety of village agencies and affiliated organizations, allowing for generations of South Orange residents to enjoy this building.
Residents unable to attend the June 13 meeting can submit comments to recreation@southorange.org via email.
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