About 60 seniors gathered today to meet with architects and city staff members overseeing the $5 million remodel of Richardson's Senior Center, slated to begin next year.

The project, financed through 2015 bond funds, seeks to upgrade facilities, increase security and improve space for activities and programming, said Yvonne Falgout, the department’s assistant director of recreation and events.

After a short presentation seniors were invited to visit stations and give suggestions on improvements to six different areas: kitchen/dining, fitness, technology, accessibility/security, activity spaces and other. Each station correlated with priorities outlined in the bond proposal approved by voters three years ago.

Within a half-hour each station's priority list was filled with suggestions scribbled in red ink. In high demand was a larger fitness room with more stationary bikes, better building acoustics so that multiple activities could happen concurrently without interference, stronger WiFi, upgraded kitchen equipment and surfacing, and greater accessibility for handicapped users.

Built in 1963 and last updated in 1999, the facility, located at 820 W. Arapahoe Road, Ste. 100, Richardson, sees an average of 250 users per day, Falgout said. While the interior of the building will change, the overall footprint will remain the same.

Addison-based Architectural firm PGAL has been selected by the city to carry out renovations. While the design plan has not been finalized, representatives from the firm said feedback from today's event will be used to guide space planning.

Construction funds will not be available until fall 2019, so until then Falgout said city staff and architects will work to update design plans that were developed prior to the 2015 bond.