Stepping out of his office at Newtown Municipal Center the morning of July 17, First Selectman Dan Rosenthal looked across the street toward rising steel. Beams traced an outline of what will be the new Newtown Community Center & Senior Center.

Facing the building, its center defined by peaking beams, the community center portion is on the left, a senior center facility to the right. Spanning the back is an aquatic facility where a pool will be installed.

Community Center Director Matthew Ariniello joined the first selectman. Walking around to the back of the facility, Mr Ariniello noted that it spanned roughly an acre of ground. From a sloping hillside behind the new construction, the two men watched dump trucks moving materials while other machinery graded the ground.

With steel giving shape to what will be a multipurpose community facility, residents passing the construction in Fairfield Hills can begin to see its size.

The steelwork began earlier this month. Construction managers Caldwell & Walsh Building Construction Inc personnel are onsite.

The building's projected opening is June of 2019.

The new 45,860-square-foot building will include separate community center and senior center areas.

The community center's facilities, totaling approximately 35,210 square feet, will include an arts and crafts room, six multipurpose activity rooms to accommodate activities ranging from music to group gatherings, a commercial kitchen, an approximately 5,000-square-foot banquet room, a six-lane 25-yard pool, a zero-entry activity pool, and outdoor connections to the surrounding area of the Fairfield Hills campus.

The separate senior center of 9,450 square feet will cater to seniors' programs and activities and strive to enhance and expand the current program offerings.

The project is funded through a 2013 gift from the GE Foundation of $15 million for the development, construction, and operation of a community center. From GE is $10 million to design and build and another $5 million to underwrite at least five years of operating expenses.

The town is bonding an additional $5 million approved in the year's Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) to supplement the initial $10 million capital gift. Another $3 million of CIP money is funding the senior center.