Telfair Central Hall now under construction

Driving through Telfair, residents and visitors might notice a large construction project now taking place along New Territory Blvd., next to the Houston Museum of Natural Science at Sugar Land.
 
This construction site is home to the future Telfair Central Hall, an innovative 9,545-square-foot community center building planned to open in Fall, 2010.
 
As the artist’s rendering shows, Telfair Central Hall takes some design inspiration from the historic 1939 Central State Farm building next door, which was transformed into the museum’s new home last fall. While it pays homage to the older building’s detailed red brick exterior, Telfair Central Hall will have its own unique 21st century style, with large expanses of glass creating a very open and contemporary look.
 
At first glance, Telfair Central Hall appears as a cluster of four separate buildings with varied heights, fronts and rooflines. This creates an organic look, as if each of the buildings had been added to the site through the years. Glass corridors tie all of the components together, giving Telfair Central Hall a cohesive and harmonious feeling, along with the ability to easily accommodate multiple groups at one time.
 
Double doors will welcome residents into the main corridor, which runs the length of the site, slightly doglegging to lead to the fitness center toward the rear. As they enter, residents can turn left to access seven multipurpose activity rooms, which are key to the overall vision for Telfair Central Hall.
 
“With its emphasis on hosting resident activities and special events, Telfair Central Hall reflects the unique spirit of community involvement among Telfair residents,” said Heather Gould, marketing director for Newland Communities.
 
A large multipurpose room will accommodate the biggest events and activities, while six smaller rooms can host a number of different activities at once. Each of the smaller rooms can be combined with the adjoining room, to create three intermediate-sized spaces.  The spacious, angled glass-enclosed corridor running the length of the meeting wing is designed to provide pre-meeting space and to encourage socializing among attendees of different events. A catering kitchen will also be available for users.
 
On the opposite side of the main corridor are offices for TelfairLife, the community service organization that creates the annual Charity of Your Choice Walk, International Music Festival, Arbor Day program, and many smaller events throughout the year. TelfairLife also administers a college scholarship program for Telfair residents.
 
Most of the meeting rooms overlook the main lake at Telfair, and the large room has doors opening onto a patio with views of the lake.
 
While it has many glass-enclosed expanses, Telfair Central Hall will also be highly energy efficient, designed and built to standards that will make it eligible for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification.
 
The site will also include three tennis courts, a canoe launch, and an access-controlled parking area for residents only.
 
When it is completed, Telfair Central Hall will join the Telfair Central Pool complex, which opened last summer to provide residents with a water park experience. Together with the museum and a future retail site, Telfair Central will soon be completed as a thriving, community-oriented complex in the heart of Telfair.