PEABODY — The Torigian Senior Center will be getting much-needed structural improvements this spring, as the two-month roof and HVAC project will likely begin in April.
According to Mayor Ted Bettencourt, the project is a full roof replacement, which will also address the HVAC systems. He said it’s one, 40-ton rooftop unit, which was ordered last fall and should be arriving soon. Bettencourt added that some of the equipment needed for the project has already been delivered, and LiRo-Hill was hired as the project manager.
The 37,000 square foot senior center was built in 1991 and marked 34 years in November of 2025. Bettencourt noted that roofs typically only last for about 20 years.
“We look to extend the life of buildings as much as we can,” he said. “We have been able to build some new schools and new structures, but that’s not feasible for every project, so we try to extend the life, and the roof is key; HVAC systems are key to this type of project.”
Bettencourt mentioned that the project is certainly not inexpensive, though.
“We have $2 million for the project,” he said. “Most of that is for the roof. The rooftop unit is probably, in and of itself, about $600,000 to $700,000. We did get a contribution from the Friends of the Council on Aging, about $200,000, and then the remaining money was approved in the capital request unanimously by the City Council back in June (of 2025).”
He added, “LiRo-Hill has been working over the course of 2025, and I think we’re finally ready to move forward and get that project done. That’ll be a good project for the Council on Aging — and a needed project. The last thing we want is leaks there. It’s a wonderful place, a great environment. We have a wonderful team there, and I think this is a good project.”
Senior Center Director Carolyn Wynn stressed the importance of roof and HVAC replacement.
“We are excited about getting the roof and everything because, literally, it really just protects everything that we do down there,” she said.
Although this winter has been tough on the center’s roof and has caused some leakage, Wynn is in high spirits, enthusiastically looking forward to the impending improvements.
“This winter has been especially bad with those cold temperatures and then a little bit of melting, so it’s been a bit of a challenge, but knowing that (the project is) going to take place, we’re so thrilled about that,” Wynn said. “We really were very fortunate to have the support we do from the City. Some senior centers don’t have that, and we’ve always been lucky in Peabody to have that.”
Wynn added that she’s thankful that the City “values the seniors as much as we do.”
Additionally, both Bettencourt and Wynn brought up that the senior center is looking to expand its footprint to allow for more classes and activities, and those logistics will be looked into and discussed further in the spring.
