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Design review shows final finishes, furniture and a conceptual 5,000‑sq‑ft multipurpose space for Westborough community center
Summary
At a Dec. 19 Town of Westborough community forum, the project team reviewed final finishes, furniture choices, AV and lighting, and an unfunded conceptual build‑out for a roughly 5,000‑square‑foot multipurpose/assembly space; programming, accessibility and facility‑use policies were raised by attendees.
Speaker 1, the presenter of the proposed Westborough Multigenerational Community Center, reviewed final design details at a community forum on Dec. 19, focusing on finishes, furniture, lighting and audiovisual equipment while answering residents’ questions about programming, accessibility and future build‑out.
The meeting laid out final material selections: luxury vinyl tile for high‑traffic areas, carpet inlays in lounges and game spaces, epoxy flooring for the kitchen and tile and quartz countertops in restrooms and at the reception desk. "The latest changes that we've made are with the card room and the billiard room," Speaker 1 said, describing an enlarged game room to accommodate an additional table and doors that allow the two rooms to function separately or open for events.
Speaker 1 said AV will be built into the design: monitors and TV screens in the multipurpose room, program rooms and the billiard/game rooms, plus a projection screen for larger presentations. On acoustics, Speaker 1 said an acoustical consultant is engaged and the design includes acoustical tile ceilings and wall‑mounted sound‑absorbing panels to reduce noise in larger and divided rooms.
Attendees pressed on operational questions. When asked whether nonprofits could use the space in the evenings, Speaker 4 said facility use will be managed through town facility use policies and that the space is intended to provide opportunities for nonprofits and community groups. Storage needs for small civic clubs were noted; Speaker 1 said a future area has been set aside for community lockers but that the number and sizing of lockers remain to be determined.
The team also presented a conceptual first‑floor build‑out — described in the materials as a larger multipurpose/assembly space of about 5,000 square feet that could be arranged as a banquet hall (capacity shown as 248) or a performance space (capacity shown as 302) with retractable seating and a movable stage. Speaker 1 cautioned that the "future phase isn't even considered as part of funding or anything," framing that layout as a planning exercise rather than a funded project.
Accessibility and circulation featured in the discussion. Speaker 1 showed a proposed new rear entrance with stair and ramp to provide a handicap‑accessible approach and noted veterans’ offices would be located near that entry. Concerns about sound transmission from adjacent gym/basketball areas were raised; Speaker 1 reiterated that the acoustical consultant will address those issues.
On furniture and procurement, Speaker 1 said renderings use placeholder pieces; a working group will test chair models in a showroom to confirm comfort and accessibility (ease of rising, lumbar support) before purchases are finalized. The presenter noted many furniture lines are long‑standing choices and likely available when phase 1 is scheduled, though pricing may change if the project is delayed.
No formal votes or funding decisions were taken at the forum. The presenter closed by reminding attendees that the next meeting, a Jan. 8 budget presentation, will provide cost and contingency information and that a Zoom option will be available.
