Jackson residents welcomed into new civic center

Jackson Mayor Dwain Hahs cut the ribbon Sunday afternoon to mark the opening of the Jackson Civic Center.

"I'd like to welcome you to your civic center," he told several hundred residents who packed into the glassy conference space.

The St. Paul Lutheran School's fourth- and fifth-grade choir sang patriotic songs to set the tone for the event, sneaking the line, "Jackson, Missouri, is the best" into the song, "Fifty Nifty United States." Commitment to the community was evident throughout the new facility, from the giant murals depicting the city's past to the "Homes," "Parks, "Schools" "Churches" engraved onto the interior pillars.

Many of the people involved with bringing the project to fruition attended the ceremony, including officials such the Jackson Board of Aldermen and public works director and project manager Rodney Bollinger; members of the architectural team from Incite Design Studio in Kansas City, Missouri, and Brockmiller Construction in Farmington, Missouri.

"The idea was to make a corridor -- they called it a community corridor -- and then areas that flank off of that," design team member and Jackson native Mike Unger said. "It was kind of hard to design around any one function."

Jackson mayor Dwain Hahs poses for a photo during the ribbon-cutting ceremony Sunday for the Jackson Civic Center.Glenn Landberg

Necessity, however, prompted the team to design the building around the FEMA safe room -- a 1,900-person-capacity gymnasium.

Steve Elefson, president of building sponsor Southeast Missouri Medical Center Inc., said 60 tons of structural steel went into the safe room, as well as seismic bracing.

"But maximizing flexibility was priority one," project architect Aaron Harte said. "For it to be open and glassy was important."

The team said it went through 10 designs since January 2012.

Hartje also praised the commitment of the parties who led the project.

Students from St. Paul Lutheran School sing during a program at the grand opening ceremony Sunday for the Jackson Civic Center.Glenn Landberg

"The doctors' group a very committed organization," Harte said of Southeast Missouri Medical Center. "I was very impressed with them."

He also praised the city.

"Even when, at the end, there were some open items that came up, the city really stepped it up."

"For everyone to play nice for so long," Unger said, "it's impressive."

The final price tag for the building came in at just under $5.5 million. Construction lasted about 15 months, concluding in December.

The facility includes office space for Jackson city parks and recreation staff, as well as one full-size basketball court, two cross-court basketball courts, volleyball courts and a walking track in the space that doubles as a safe room.

"I'm speechless," Bollinger said. "It's amazing today. I hope everybody likes it. I'm very pleased with the final product."

Part of the original intent for the civic center was it would serve as a hub for socialization, not just fitness. To that end, the facility features conference space for community use, a banquet hall, meeting rooms, common areas with armchairs and a catering kitchen and coffee bar.

The new civic center is intended to eventually be connected with the Jackson Parks Department's trail system.

By the end of 2015, more than $140,000 had been donated for the purchase of equipment, supplies and other needs such as additional parking. The fundraising committee still is asking residents to consider donating, and it offers several contribution levels.

The civic center will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and from noon to 9 p.m. Sunday.

Daily entry for patrons aged 5 and older will be $2, with half-price admission from 6 to 9 a.m. Multi-visit passes, monthly and yearly memberships as well as family membership rates are available, with discounts for people age 55 and older.

For a list of membership options and rates, visit jacksonmo.org/Parks-and-Rec/Civic-Center/.

The new facility already is scheduled to host its first community function Saturday -- the annual Red and Black affair fundraiser for Jackson schools.

"This is just a great asset," Hahs said. "And tomorrow, we will start using it with the public, which is what it was really for."

tgraef@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3627