On March 20, 2012 we broke ground on our new building. Scores of students, supporters, teachers and community members marched from the Williamstown Elementary School to the fenced-off construction area chanting “together, we did” — a play off the center’s capital campaign slogan, “together we can.”

“These two buildings are a clear indication of the importance you are to us,” Rempell told hundreds of Elementary School pupils at the construction site on Tuesday. “This is happening because the adults in this community care about you.”

Please check out our latest video about the recent groundbreaking for our new building.

Ground Breaking Video – Trailer

Ground Breaking Video – Full Length

On March 20, 2012 we broke ground on our new building. Scores of students, supporters, teachers and community members marched from the Williamstown Elementary School to the fenced-off construction area chanting “together, we did” — a play off the center’s capital campaign slogan, “together we can.”

Watch the virtual tour created by Black River Design.

Stay updated with our building updates and all things concerning the new youth center.

As reported by By Andy McKeever, iBerkshires Staff on Tuesday, March 20, 2012.
Read full iBerkshires article here: Williamstown Youth Center Breaks Ground On New Building

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — With a parade and singing, the town’s youth was forever changed on Tuesday as the Youth Center broke ground on a new building.

The nonprofit organization began construction on a new 12,000 square foot building on Elementary School land after three years of planning — an achievement Youth Center Executive Director David Rempell calls “historic.”

“These two buildings are a clear indication of the importance you are to us,” Rempell told hundreds of Elementary School pupils at the construction site on Tuesday. “This is happening because the adults in this community care about you.”

Scores of students marched from the school to the fenced-off construction area chanting “together, we did” — a play off the center’s capital campaign slogan, “together we can.” They gathered around former baseball fields where officials held a short ceremony to commemorate the occasion.

The children even sang their own song about the center and the event concluded with they and the Youth Center’s board of directors tossing the first shovels of dirt while the rest of the students cheered they on.

“In my opinion, this whole event is about community,” Rempell said. “We are making history here today.”

Construction is expected to last until Oct. 1 with occupancy on Oct. 31 and provide a new and closer partnership between the school and the center’s programming.

“This represents a new lease on life for the Youth Center,” President Paul Jennings said. “These shovels really are the beginning of digging and the machines will start digging tomorrow.”

The new center is expected to open at the end of October.
During the construction center officials said they have set up a camera to document the progress and they are currently planning new programming to go with the new building.

“This is going to be a new building that is used by you guys to enhance your learning in many, many ways,” Jennings said.

The building replaced their former building on Cole Avenue that had been worn into deplorable conditions and for years the center was seeking a new location and had their eye on a partnership with the Elementary School when the town built the new school in 2002.

In 2009, center officials received preliminary permission to build on the school’s land and embarked on a capital campaign to raise more than $3 million from more than 1,000 donors for the construction.

A groundbreaking was scheduled in 2010 but was delayed two times — once because of debate over the playground and another time to give architects more time to plan.

In February, Youth Center officials received the final nod of approval when they signed a 100-year lease with the school — setting the stage for Tuesday’s event.

More photos of the ceremony can be found here and below is a “fly by tour” created by the architects, Black River Design, of what the final building will looking like.

Everyday the Youth Center provides area kids with a safe, well-supervised place to do homework, play games, explore art activities, or simply hang out with friends. Staff and volunteers, including Williams College students, are on hand daily to mentor younger people as they work on study, athletic, and social skills.

Unlike our Cole Ave. home, the new Youth Center will be an attractive and safe place for kids to be kids.

Register for our After School Program

Thursday February 9, 2012 | North Adams Transcript

WILLIAMSTOWN — Officials from the Williamstown School Committee and the Williamstown Youth Center have signed a 50-year lease — the last item needed to allow the Youth Center to build a new facility on the grounds of the elementary school.

The School Committee unanimously approved the land lease at its meeting Wednesday night, while the Youth Center’s board of directors approved it Monday night.

“With all the community work that has gone into getting to this point, I feel this a momentous occasion,” David Rempell, executive director of the Youth Center, said Wednesday night.

He said everything is now set for a groundbreaking on March 15.

“It is my expectation that this is the beginning of a wonderful marriage between the Youth Center and Williamstown that will benefit the kids in the
community and the surrounding communities,” he said.

Paul Jennings, president of the Youth Center Board of Directors, echoed Rempell’s remarks, adding that getting the project to this point has been a long process.

“What we care about is the children of this town, and it led to a terrific outcome,” he said. “I don’t think we could have chosen a better path than we did.”

Construction of the approximately 12,300-square-foot, single-story building is expected to be completed at the end of October or the beginning of November. It is being built to the south of the school building on the School Street side of the property.

While the lease is for an initial term of 50 years, there is an option at the end of that period to extend it for another 50 years, depending on a successful performance review of the Youth Center’s operation, according to the document.

In addition, the lease stipulates that the Youth Center establish and fund a maintenance reserve account and a performance security account prior to the effective date of the lease. The maintenance reserve must be funded by an initial $50,000 deposit and achieve a balance of $519,000 by 2032, the lease stated. The performance security must be funded by $250,000, and that amount must remain in the account for at least 120 days after the certificate of occupancy is issued for the new Youth Center facility, according to the lease.

Rempell said once that time limit, the money in the performance security account will go back to the Youth Center.

Rempell presented the School Committee with a letter from Williamstown Savings Bank stating that the Youth Center had opened the two accounts, and deposited the required funds in them Wednesday.

According to the lease, any expenditures from the maintenance reserve fund of more than $10,000 for a single item, and more than $25,000 during a year, require written approval from the town.

The Youth Center is also required to provide the town with an annual written report outlining the condition of the facility, maintenance and repairs done during the previous 12 months, and plans for maintenance and repairs during the next 12 months, according to the lease.

Monday February 6, 2012 | North Adams Transcript

WILLIAMSTOWN — An estimated 250 people came out Sunday to enjoy an afternoon of family-friendly activities at the Williamstown Youth Center’s ninth annual Snowfest fundraiser.

“In my mind, it’s what community is all about,” Youth Center Executive Director David Rempell said of the event Sunday. “The sense of community that comes through is extremely gratifying. All these people coming out together at the same time as supporting this organization — I would say that doesn’t happen every day.”

Held at Williams College’s Towne Field House and Lansing Chapman Rink, the event packed the field house with offerings including Wii video games, a climbing wall, a bouncy house, an inflatable obstacle course, an inflatable Twister mat, spin art Frisbees and other arts and crafts. Athletes from Williams, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and Mount Greylock Regional High School also played basketball and soccer with children, while families were also able to take to the ice next door at the Chapman Rink with members of the Williams hockey teams.

Despite this winter being warm enough to keep cabin fever at bay, children attending Snowfest dove right into the day’s activities.

“They got to the door and went in different directions,” North Adams resident Robert Sills said of his sons, Brandon, 8, and Alec, 4. “They get to interact with all the kids their age, and they seem to

know everybody. It’s a nice community event.”

Elinor Goodwin, Snowfest’s main organizer, said it’s that excitement on the part of the children that inspires her work.

“The motivation is the kids’ faces,” Goodwin said. “There’s a freedom here where they can just go and play. Watching people’s faces when they walk in the door is priceless, and when they walk out the door, they’re always appreciative.” Goodwin has organized eight Snowfests as of Sunday.

Rempell said that while the event’s fundraising goal was $20,000 — to be used for the center’s operating budget and scholarships — he expected the final tally to be “somewhat less” as the Youth Center is still in the midst of a capital campaign for a new building planned on the grounds of Williamstown Elementary School. A groundbreaking for the new facility is slated for March 15, and $4.26 million has been raised to date, Rempell said. Final numbers for the money raised at Snowfest were not available as of press time.

Both Rempell and Paul Jennings, president of the Youth Center’s Board of Directors, highlighted Goodwin’s work in putting the event together, but all three praised the roughly 150 volunteers who help along the way.

“It’s a lot of volunteers from the community and college athletes,” Goodwin said, adding that roughly 100 college athletes and 30 high school athletes volunteered their time. “The whole idea of community service among high schools is growing. And it’s fun; it’s getting to play with kids. The Williams athletes have always been really generous with their time.”

Two of those Williams athletes, sophomore soccer players User Kushaina and Ralston Louie, were playing basketball with children Sunday.

“It’s our way of giving back to the community,” Kushaina said of the volunteer effort. “It’s representing the team and making a good name for the team, and the kids are fun.”

“The best part is working with the kids,” Louie added. “You get to see local up-and-coming athletes.”

One such up-and-comer was focused not on traditional sports, but on the climbing wall.

“I really like climbing and I’m a good climber,” Quinn McDermott, 6, said, adding that his father, Youth Center Board of Directors member Marc McDermott, is an avid climber. Quinn was at Snowfest with his father, grandmother Linda, twin sister, Lily, and brother, Cole, 8.

“It’s a great day and a great cause,” said Linda. “This is typical Williamstown.”

This year’s Snowfest is scheduled for Sunday February 5th.

This year’s Snowfest will be held at the Williams College Field House on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 5, from 12-4 (plenty of time for family fun before the big game.) Tickets are once again $35 for the entire family.

Games, activities, food, and music. Call the Youth Center to purchase tickets, or for more information.