Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Nevada breaks ground on teen center

Ground was broken for a teen center at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Nevada Friday, beginning an addition on which teens helped with the design.

The 6,500 square foot center, to go on the east side of the current 12,000 square foot clubs’ facility, should be completed by next spring, according to club officials and the contractor, providing a new dimension to the clubs at 1870 Russell Way. More than $1.6 million was raised for the project, $1.2 million from the William N. Pennington Foundation of Reno and the rest from donors.

“Everything has been clicking along on this project,” said Kurt Meyer, the club’s board vice president and the teen center committee chairman. John Olivas, the clubs’ board president, said teens were involved in design of the teen center throughout the process.

“It’s truly their space,” Olivas said.

Along with the adult dignitaries turning shovels of dirt in the symbolic and celebratory Friday morning event were three of the teens who had been involved in design work. They were Julian Alvarado, 18; and Sierra Machal and Autumn Cuellar, both 17.

Meyer, who’s the next president of the clubs’ board, in sharing pre-ground breaking remarks with Olivas also noted city government’s multi-purpose athletic center (MAC) under construction next door to the south. He said the city had chosen the right location and called the Russell Way facilities duo synergistic in a fashion that can’t be matched or exceeded anywhere else in Carson City.

The contractor for the teen center is Shaheen Beauchamp Builders, LLC, and the contractor for the $8.5 million MAC next door is Miles Construction. Mark Beauchamp and Bill Miles were among the dignitaries representing the clubs’ board, the Pennington foundation and others who helped turn dirt and kick off the center addition with the trio of teens.