Apex Senior Center

Barnhill Building Group partnered with the Town of Apex to construct the new Apex Senior Center, a 28,000-square-foot community facility designed to support wellness, lifelong learning, recreation, and social engagement for one of North Carolina’s fastest-growing communities. Delivered using the Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) method, the project expands the Town’s municipal campus while providing a modern destination where residents can gather, learn, exercise, and connect.

Located alongside the Town Hall and existing Community Center, the new senior center was carefully integrated into the existing municipal campus to create a seamless civic destination. Throughout construction, Barnhill coordinated the relocation and rerouting of existing utilities and site infrastructure serving adjacent buildings, allowing municipal operations to continue while preparing the campus for long-term growth.

The facility was designed to accommodate a wide variety of community programming through flexible, multi-purpose spaces. Dedicated exercise and yoga studios promote health and wellness, while multiple classrooms support continuing education, enrichment courses, and lifelong learning opportunities. Flexible meeting rooms provide space for civic organizations, educational programs, volunteer groups, and community events of varying sizes.

Specialized activity spaces include an arts and crafts studio, pottery room, informal activity spaces, and a catering kitchen capable of supporting events and social gatherings. Administrative offices, storage areas, reception spaces, and support facilities allow the building to efficiently serve both daily programming and large community functions.

The architecture emphasizes openness, accessibility, and natural daylight. Expansive glass, welcoming entrances, outdoor gathering areas, and landscaped courtyards encourage interaction while creating inviting spaces for visitors. Interior finishes were selected for durability, comfort, and ease of maintenance, ensuring the facility will continue serving residents for decades.

Barnhill’s Construction Manager at Risk approach emphasized collaboration from the earliest stages of design through project completion. Working closely with the Town of Apex, Smith Sinnett Architecture, and project stakeholders, the team identified opportunities to maximize functionality while maintaining schedule and budget objectives. Careful coordination of underground utilities, campus circulation, and construction sequencing minimized disruptions to neighboring municipal facilities throughout the project.

The completed Apex Senior Center serves as far more than a recreation facility. It functions as a community hub where residents can pursue wellness, lifelong learning, artistic expression, and meaningful social connections. Flexible programming spaces allow the building to evolve alongside the needs of the Town while supporting events, educational programming, fitness classes, volunteer activities, and civic engagement.

The project reflects Barnhill Building Group’s extensive experience delivering municipal buildings, community centers, recreation facilities, public buildings, and civic construction projects throughout North Carolina. By combining thoughtful planning, collaborative delivery, and high-quality construction, Barnhill created a vibrant community destination that enhances quality of life for current and future generations of Apex residents.

DETAILS: 28,000-square-foot senior center featuring fitness rooms, classrooms, meeting spaces, arts studios, catering kitchen, administrative offices, and outdoor gathering areas.

SCOPE OF WORK: Construction Manager at Risk services for a new senior center, including site development, utility relocations, building construction, fitness spaces, classrooms, meeting rooms, commercial kitchen, offices, landscaping, and infrastructure improvements.

SOLUTION: Barnhill partnered with the Town of Apex to deliver a modern senior center that expands community programming while seamlessly integrating with the existing municipal campus and maintaining critical utility services throughout construction.