MIDDLETOWN -- The city's new senior center has been open only two weeks, but already officials have seen an increase in demand for new classes, exercise programs and other activities.

Aresco Construction finished renovating the Eckersley-Hall Building on Durant Terrace in November after spending more than a year completely refurbishing the interior.

The long-awaited project allowed the senior center to move from its cramped two-room quarters on William Street in the Sbona Towers complex into the new location with dedicated space for exercise, games, dining, arts and crafts, reading and health screenings.

"It's very warm and cozy," said Theresa Brink, who said she went to the old senior center on William Street a few times but never got interested in any programs there. "It's definitely a positive place for Middletown seniors to come and do something."

Brink said she went to the senior center Tuesday to participate in a new book club that met in the building's library, and expects to use the new center often.

Senior Services Manager Ann Gregg said the book club is just one example of the types of programs the new senior center can offer because there is finally enough space to host it.

"In my opinion we'll be able to double the programming," Gregg said.

Mayor's Aide Joe Samolis said a few minor finishing touches still need to be completed, but the project was within its budget and was completed on time. He took over as chairman of the senior center building committee when longtime Councilman Ronald Klattenberg retired and moved out of state earlier this year.

"It's going very well so far. Better than we expected," Samolis said.

The city has been planning the new senior center since purchasing the Eckersley-Hall Building from the Norwich Diocese in 2011 for $800,000. The building, which was the St. Sebastian School until the school closed, is named after Herbert Eckersley and Fred Hall, two Middletown residents who died in combat in World War I. It was added to the state Register of Historic Places in 2012.

Voters approved spending up to $4.82 million on renovations in 2012, and the common council before that had appropriated $750,000 for handicap accessibility work. Tax credits and grants paid for about $1.3 million of the project.

Building committee vice chairman and former councilman Philip Pessina said he was thrilled that the committee was able to deliver on its promises of an expanded senior center at a minimal cost to the taxpayers.

"There's a lot of memories here, and we're giving the seniors something they can be proud of," Pessina said. "They've waited 30-something years. The seniors were discouraged but we said we would do it."

The senior center's game room is named after Klattenberg, and the library is named after Pessina. The dining room is named after Ed Dypa, a building committee member and the longtime chairman of the senior services commission.

"I'm very pleased. It's been a long time coming. I've been working on this for 20 years," Dypa said. "Today's seniors aren't the type that sit and read books and do puzzles. They want active types of programs and with the new senior center that's what we're going to be able to give them."

Gregg said the city is providing free transportation from senior housing centers for anyone who wants to get to the senior center with two Middletown Area Transit vans. The vans will stop at eight locations about every 40 minutes. A full schedule is available at the senior center.

The city is planning a grand opening celebration for the first week in February.

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