Senior center on schedule

The Oasis Senior Center hopes to see its membership grow from about 4,000 to anywhere from 6,000 to 8,000 when it moves into a new 36,500-square-foot building in Corona del Mar this fall, officials said.

“We anticipate a lot of people will want to come check it out because it’s something new,” said Scott Paulsen, president of Friends of Oasis, which raises money for the senior center.

Construction on the $16.5-million building on Marguerite Avenue is on schedule, and the center could be moving into its new digs by October or November, center Director Celeste Jardine-Haug said.

While its new headquarters is being built, the center has moved its operations to a cluster of temporary trailers at a park across the street.

Senior center classes are scattered at locations around the city.

Construction crews last week were busy putting a roof on the new center. Large Alaskan yellow cedar trusses, which are a focal point of Oasis’ new event center, have been put in place.

The new center will sit atop a man-made hill. Raising the elevation of the building will allow the center to take advantage of an ocean view from Marigold Avenue.

Oasis is already trying to find more contract instructors to expand its class offerings when the new senior center on Marguerite Avenue opens its doors, Jardine-Haug said.

“We’re looking for things that will interest seniors of all capabilities, and we expect a lot of people will want to teach here,” she said.

In particular, Oasis is looking for fitness and dance instructors to take advantage of a state-of-the art fitness center that will be part of the new headquarters.

The center also wants to reach out to working seniors by expanding its hours and offering classes in the evening, instead of just during the day, Jardine-Haug said.

The new center also will include a library and computer room and will use recycled materials from the old senior center in the construction.