The coronation of the new senior center may have only lasted a few hours but the event was five years in the making—and the process wasn't easy. The finished product is an amalgam of many ideas and the result of a lot of hard work.

In 1997, the senior center's long-term lease with the Sunnyvale School District ended and the city determined that it would be more cost-effective to construct a new center on city property.

But many seniors didn't agree with the city's preliminary plans and wanted more than the proposed 14,000-square-foot add-on to the community center. One woman took it upon herself to make sure the seniors got something more.

Helen DeWolf, a Sunnyvale resident and parks and recreation commissioner with the city, petitioned the city council in 1998 for a larger, stand-alone building strictly for seniors. DeWolf collected 1,700 signatures from seniors who felt that a separate space was needed to serve their needs adequately.

"If the city was going to invest in building a senior center, they might as well make it the best it can be and give us the resources that we need," says DeWolf.

The city council listened and set aside $12.5 million to put toward a 23,000-square-foot single-story center next to the existing community center. The actual costs of the senior center have amounted to only $11 million. DeWolf has since served on the senior advisory council with a group of seniors that has been instrumental in providing input on the construction and design of the center.

John Lawrence, leisure services manager with the city, worked as a liaison between the city and the advisory council. "What makes this project unique is the collaboration of all of us," Lawrence says.

After the city council's approval in 1998, the advisory council began to visit other Bay Area senior centers in cities like Milpitas and Pleasanton.

Then they worked with architects and the city to hash out the design and optional features.

Photograph by Erin Day Tom Huen and his wife, Elizabeth, dance the cha cha at the first dance in the new Sunnyvale Senior Center.

"Not everyone agreed on what to do, but we compromised on a lot of features. You know how seniors are—we all think we are right and we're very opinionated," says Michaelena Hughes, president of the Sunnyvale Senior Citizens Club and a member of the advisory council.

For instance, Hughes says she wanted a computer room with full Internet access. But in response to the city's budget crisis, the city staff decided that the cost to buy and maintain the computers would be too high, according to Patricia Lord, recreation supervisor at the center. The room is wired for computers, however, should the city decide to install them in the future.

DeWolf says compromising was difficult even when it came down to the little things. "We had 12 different opinions on everything from furniture to carpeting to color schemes," DeWolf says.

But through the advisory council and through different surveys asking seniors what features they would use in a new center, the city received extensive input from the community.

"There were representatives of seniors bringing ideas from their clubs to the advisory council," DeWolf says.

Lord says the city held many open brainstorming sessions with the advisory council and other seniors in the community. "Those sessions helped us to focus our vision. Having a lounge, having a fitness room—those decisions were not made arbitrarily," Lord says.

But Lawrence and city staff helped tie all the ideas and themes together, DeWolf and Hughes both say.

One thing everyone agreed on was the building's tree theme. The senior center and the adjacent community center are on land once filled with orchards—there are still some apricot orchards next to the center.

Each room is named after a tree. There's the Orchard Pavilion, which is the main room that will be used for large meetings, dances or other activities, as well as the Sequoia, Cypress and Laurel rooms.

Photograph by Erin Day Birdie Wiswell (standing) serves dessert to seniors during lunch at the new Sunnyvale Senior Center. Wiswell has been a senior center volunteer for 15 years.

The new center also features a stage and facilities for arts and crafts, including a ceramics kiln. There's also a modern commercial kitchen that can accommodate catering.

The city currently provides many free and low-cost activities at the old center and other locations, activities such as art, computer and fitness classes. Most of these activities will move to the new senior center.

There are also small counseling rooms where seniors can have their blood pressure checked or meet with city staff or volunteers to discuss any issues they are facing.

A billiards room with four pool tables and a fitness room round off the center.

These amenities were chosen to appeal to seniors of all ages, says Lord. Technically a senior in Sunnyvale is anyone over the age of 50. "We want this center to break through the stigma of what it means to be a senior because this is such a fresh, new facility. We're hoping to bring young and old seniors together," says Lord.

Currently the center is open on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. But Lord says the city is looking to expand hours to evenings and weekends to appeal to seniors in their 50s and early 60s who still hold day jobs.

The city's plan to bring older and younger seniors together may just work.

Vicki Cardoza, a Sunnyvale resident who has been visiting the new center in its first few days, says she plans to use the fitness room and sign up for some exercise classes. "The exercise helps my body a lot, as I'm recovering from a stroke on the left side of my body," Cardoza says.

Photograph by Erin Day In the Oak Lounge at the new Sunnyvale Senior Center, bridge players like Grace Sorauf (center) get a game going with fellow card sharks.

The new center's food appeals to a lot of other people as well. Around lunchtime, half the people who walk through the front doors head for the lunch area, while the other half head for the lounge to play bridge.

The center also made room for the Unique Boutique, a consignment store that offers handmade goods from participating seniors.

The opening of the new senior center is special to many people because of the public input. "Everything in here is so precious because we were involved in the decisions from the very beginning," says Mary Hidalgo, president of the Sunnyvale Bayview Senior Citizens Club and a member of the advisory council.

"I never dreamed that I'd have anything as gorgeous as this in my old age," Hidalgo says, adding that it's a beautiful and peaceful place to relax.

DeWolf says the new building is a milestone in her life. "I'm proud of the work we've all done. We helped to create that, and the place looks like a first-class act. The city didn't spare any money," DeWolf says.

Now that the construction is done, DeWolf says, she can sit back and watch others enjoy the fruits of the advisory council's labor. "I'm sure the center is going to be a real asset to the community," DeWolf says.

The people who need it the most are the seniors who have been left alone for various reasons, she says. "A lot of people don't realize there are a lot of seniors who have nothing in their lives. This is a place for them to go. When they connect with others here their life takes on more meaning," says DeWolf.

The placement of the senior center next to the community center, sports center and community theater will allow seniors more opportunities to interact with people of all age groups, says Lord.

Hughes suspects the senior center and its counterparts will become a focal point for Sunnyvale residents. "This is going to be the center and heart of Sunnyvale," says Hughes.

As downtown renovations continue, with new high-density buildings replacing the Town Center Mall, the downtown area will be under construction for the next few years. "The city is very fragmented right now with the mall being torn down soon. Now more than ever we need a place to gather and connect with others," Hughes says.