The Jack and Lee Rosen Jewish Community Center will nearly double in size through an expansion that will include a theater, an auditorium and almost 10 classrooms.
The center, at 11184 S Apopka Vineland Rd., near Windermere, will add a total of 22,117 square feet over the upcoming months. Right now, the facility is 34,000 square feet.
The community center serves people of all races and religions and has seen such residential growth in the area the expansion became necessary, said executive director Bonnie Rayman.
“We’re bursting at the seams,” Rayman said.
She calls the current project Phase 2 and already has Phase 3 planned: the addition of an aquatic center with pool and splash park, which would go in the back of the property.
Under Phase 2, on the north side of the building, 17,348 square feet will be added to house the theater and auditorium. Also planned are three classrooms for camp use, a catering kitchen, two music rooms and a room for babysitting while parents are working out.
Some 4,769 square feet will be added to the south side to serve as an education wing for the early childhood education center. The addition will include four classrooms–three standard and one to serve as a parenting center and a library.
The Harris Rosen Foundation is paying $3 million for the construction. In addition, the community center is launching a campaign to raise $1 million for furniture, fixtures and equipment.
The community center plans a groundbreaking on June 24 and work is expected to be complete in February.
The general contractor is Focal Point Construction Services of Orlando.
The architect is Heilman Architecture of Altamonte Springs.
The center opened in 2009 as a branch of the Jewish Community Center Maitland and in February became its own organization.
