“It’s an old building, but we take care of it,” says Robert Scott in his Tennessee drawl. As director of facilities at the Levite JCC, Robert and his dedicated crew are constantly on the move throughout the nearly 100,000 square-foot facility — fixing shower heads, patching walls, and making sure this room isn’t too warm and that one too cold.
“It’s like playing whack-a-mole,” he quips.
But what also keeps Robert busy is meeting with contractors about upcoming projects. Big projects that tackle the larger moles. Like last year’s effort to fix the roof and replace HVAC units.
“It got a bit noisy last summer as we tore off nearly 56,000 square feet of roofing, but it was music to my ears,” Robert says as he ticks the job off his list. “It’s great not to be running around chasing leaks with buckets anymore.”
And then there was the time last summer when he had to close the indoor pool for a few weeks in order to replace its worn-out machinery and patch up and clean the basin (aquatic moles??). Today the pool is in its best condition since it opened nearly 70 years ago.
Big plans for the year ahead
In 2024, The J invested some $840,000 in building improvements and capital projects.
“That was fantastic,” says Robert, now beginning his second year at The J. “But I’m actually even more excited about what we’re planning for 2025, in large part because these plans will more directly impact our members”:
- Updating and remodeling the restrooms across from the Senior Lounge and on the fitness floor
- Updating the showers in the men’s and women’s locker rooms
- Constructing a usable courtyard patio to be accessed from the library
- Resurfacing the tennis courts
- Filling in the long-empty jacuzzi tub spaces in the men’s and women’s locker rooms
“The J might feel a bit rough around the edges, but it’s got a lot of character, and with every enhancement it just gets better and better,” Robert says. “I’m eager to see where the year takes us.”
