Type
Community
Location
Watts, Los Angeles, CA
Year
2024
Area
4,500 sq ft
Materials
3,200 board feet of reclaimed oak and Douglas fir
Timeline
8 weeks
Budget Range
Subsidized / Grant-funded
Wood Species Used
- Reclaimed White Oak (stage floor & bench seating)
- Reclaimed Douglas Fir (library shelving & picnic tables)
- Reclaimed Mixed Hardwoods (decorative elements)
Finishes Applied
- Stage-grade polyurethane on oak floor
- Natural oil on shelving
- Exterior-grade sealant on picnic tables
Project Story
The Watts Community Center is a vital neighborhood resource that had not received significant renovation in over 20 years. A coalition of community organizations secured grant funding for a comprehensive interior and exterior renovation, with a mandate to use sustainable materials wherever possible.
The most impactful element of the renovation was the stage and performance area. The existing stage had plywood flooring covered with worn carpet — unsuitable for the dance performances, theater productions, and musical events that the community center hosts. We provided reclaimed white oak for a proper stage floor, selected for its hardness, resonance qualities, and warm appearance.
The stage floor was installed using a sprung subfloor system designed for dance — the oak planks sit on a resilient underlayment that provides the slight give that dancers need to perform safely. The white oak was sourced from a deconstructed church in Inglewood, and its warm golden tone creates a beautiful performance surface.
Throughout the center's multi-purpose room, we installed reclaimed Douglas fir bench seating — sturdy, comfortable benches that can be arranged for meetings, performances, or community meals. The benches were designed to be modular: they can be configured in rows for performances, circles for meetings, or pushed to the walls to clear floor space for events.
The center's small library and reading room received new shelving built from reclaimed Douglas fir, providing proper display and storage for the growing collection of books, media, and community resources. The shelving was designed to be both functional and warm — a welcoming environment for the reading programs that serve neighborhood children.
Outdoor improvements included eight picnic tables built from reclaimed Douglas fir, installed in the center's courtyard for outdoor events, family gatherings, and after-school programs. The tables were finished with an exterior-grade sealant for weather protection.
The renovation was completed with significant volunteer labor from the community, with our team providing on-site training and supervision. The renewed center now hosts twice as many events per month as it did before the renovation, serving as a true neighborhood hub.
Before & After
BBefore
The community center showed its age: the stage had water-stained plywood flooring covered in threadbare carpet, library shelving was made of sagging particle board, seating was a mix of damaged folding chairs, and the courtyard had no outdoor furniture. The building was functional but uninviting, and attendance at community events had been declining.
AAfter
The renovated center features a professional-quality reclaimed oak stage floor suitable for dance and theater, handsome Douglas fir bench seating that is both beautiful and infinitely reconfigurable, warm library shelving that makes the reading room an inviting destination, and a courtyard with eight solid picnic tables. The space is warm, dignified, and community-worthy. Event attendance has more than doubled since the renovation.
Material Specifications
Stage Floor
Reclaimed white oak, 3/4"x3.25" strips on sprung subfloor system, from Inglewood church demolition. Stage-grade polyurethane, 5 coats.
Bench Seating
Reclaimed Douglas fir, 2x4" and 2x10" construction, modular design. Natural oil finish. 20 bench units total.
Library Shelving
Reclaimed Douglas fir, 1x12" shelves on 2x4" frames, 6 freestanding units. Natural oil finish.
Picnic Tables
Reclaimed Douglas fir, standard 6' picnic table design, heavy-duty construction. Exterior-grade sealant.
Project Timeline
Needs Assessment
1 weekMet with community center board, reviewed grant requirements, assessed building conditions, and developed material specification plan.
Material Preparation
2 weeksSourced and prepared all materials. Pre-built bench seating and shelving units in our shop. Pre-cut picnic table kits for volunteer assembly.
Stage & Interior Work
3 weeksInstalled sprung subfloor system and reclaimed oak stage floor. Placed shelving units in library. Delivered and arranged bench seating.
Finishing & Exterior
2 weeksApplied all interior finishes. Community volunteers assembled picnic tables with our supervision. Final punch list and cleanup.
Challenges & Solutions
Challenge
The stage needed a sprung floor system for safe dance performance, but the grant budget did not include funds for a professional dance floor system.
Solution
We designed a simplified sprung floor using stacked plywood layers with foam isolation pads between them, topped with our reclaimed oak strip flooring. A dance instructor tested the floor and confirmed it provided adequate resilience for safe performance.
Challenge
The center needed to remain partially operational during construction — it could not close entirely for 8 weeks as many community programs depend on it daily.
Solution
We phased the work to keep at least half the building accessible at all times. Stage and library work was completed first while the multi-purpose room remained open. Then bench seating and finishing was completed while programs moved to the renovated stage area.
Challenge
Several of the reclaimed oak planks from the church had stained-glass window dye marks on their surface from decades of light exposure.
Solution
We positioned these boards in less visible areas toward the edges of the stage. Some community members actually asked us to feature the colored sections, seeing them as a meaningful connection to the wood's sacred origins. We highlighted a few of the most vivid pieces in the front of the stage as accent boards.
“This center is the living room of our neighborhood. For too long it looked tired and forgotten, and people stopped coming. Now it is beautiful, warm, and welcoming — and people are proud of it again. The wood gives it a quality feel. Our kids deserve nice things too, and this renovation proves it.”
Rev. Michael T.
Community Center Board President