Hanover Senior Center

Beginning in 2002, Merrill worked closely with the Hanover Senior Center Building Committee to select a suitable location and design a new Senior Center for the Town. Planning of the current site off Center Street began in 2004 and was met with many challenges. Wetlands and some moderately sloping topography required some creek design to achieve site access with the placement of the building, parking areas, drainage, and the two athletic fields required to be part of the conceptual design.

Working closely with our client and the Project Architect, a budget of 4.6 million dollars, including 1.2 million for the site work, was developed. At the Fall 2007 Town Meeting, the Town voted to deny this budget and scale down the project. Merrill was able to reduce site costs by designing a smaller parking area and a less expensive septic and drainage system.

Construction of the new Senior Center was completed last year after 4 years of planning and design. Access to the facility was achieved by designing a 750-foot roadway, and a complex stormwater management system to comply with DEP Stormwater guidelines in poorly draining soils and ledges. The Center is supported by a two-tiered parking area built into the side of a hill.