Vince Myers (left), co-founding principal and president of DIGroup Architecture, and Scott Hoffman, principal, were among those who joined Ewing Township Mayor Bert H. Steinmann, council members and community leaders at a recent groundbreaking ceremony for the new Ewing Township Senior & Community Center. — Photo by Julie Willmot, Ewing Township/Courtesy: DIG
By Joshua Burd
Construction is underway in Ewing on a new 70,000-square-foot senior and community center that will replace a facility that was damaged by a devastating fire in 2022.
According to DIGroup Architecture, which designed the project, the structure at 999 Lower Ferry Road will be twice as large as the original building and will have modern amenities for seniors, youth programs and community venues. The plan also involves restoration of the adjacent Louis I. Kahn-designed bathhouse, a historically significant structure in the township.
Mayor Bert H. Steinmann, township council members and other local officials joined community leaders and residents recently to break ground on the project.
“The new Ewing Township Senior & Community Center is designed to be more than just a building — it is a place where residents of all ages can come together, access vital resources and build a stronger sense of community,” said Vince Myers, president and co-founding principal of DIG. “We are proud to contribute to a project that replaces what was lost while creating a modern, accessible space that will serve Ewing residents of all ages for many years to come.”
DIG said that, upon completion, the ESCC will stand as a vibrant hub for recreational, social and wellness programs. Myers, a longtime township resident, said it will also reflect Ewing’s commitment to community engagement and accessibility, as well as expanded services and new amenities to support connections and learning.
Once known as the Trenton Jewish Community Center and Day Camp, the ESCC property is a notable resource on both the National and the New Jersey Register of Historic Places.
Kahn, an Estonian-born architect based in Philadelphia, was hired to design the entire complex in the mid-1950s when the idea of a multiuse community center was a unique concept, according to a news release, but the complete plans were abandoned once the bath house was constructed. While the bathhouse was spared by the fire, DIG said, it was in desperate need of repairs and an overall visual refresh to bring it back to its original grandeur.
