The demolition of the former Michael J. Whalen Junior High School building in southern Hamden remains without a definitive timeline, officials said. But the town is moving ahead with plans to renovate the school’s freestanding gymnasium into a youth, arts and recreation center – the first step in Hamden Mayor Lauren Garrett’s vision to transform the property into a “community campus.” The new, two-story recreation center will feature a gymnasium, weight room, black box theater, study lounge, kitchen and several rooms for various programming, among other amenities, according to preliminary plans from Hartford-based 7 Summits Construction and Farmington-based Friar Architecture, who were selected as the contractors for the project. The center’s total cost is about $10.84 million, which Hamden will pay for using federal American Rescue Plan Act funds.
https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/hamden-recreation-center-newhall-middle-school-19745368.php