Renovations and enhancements to be made to auditorium, dining rooms and other amenities

COLUMBUS – Tryon Estates held a groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday, Dec. 20 to announce a $10 million renovation project starting next year.

Tryon Estates Executive Director Dionne James presented the project along with Senior Vice President Charles Coxson and Vice President of Real Estate Services Ken Karmeris to residents at the community.

The project will include renovations to the facility’s two dining rooms and auditorium, according to a press release by Corporate Director of Communications Michael Smith. James said renovations to the community’s library, arts and crafts room and other amenities are also included in the project.

“Acts Retirement-Life Communities, the parent company of Tryon Estates, is leading the development of the project,” the release said. “The renovations feature new construction and extensive upgrades to existing common areas throughout the community, including two restaurants for casual and fine dining, and a large, multi-purpose auditorium.”

Home to approximately 400 residents, Tryon Estates opened in 1992 and will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2017, according to Coxson. The project is part of the “evolution” of the campus and is focused on serving the community’s residents and their needs, according to James.

“We are very excited for this next evolution of our campus to serve our residents and future generations who desire the retirement lifestyle experience and healthcare security our type of community provides,” James said.

At the ceremony, Karmeris said the project “has been a long time coming.” James added Edifice General Contractors would be building the project designed by THW Design.

“It’s a great new project and I think it’s a great new beginning because it’s an overdue project,” Karmeris said at the ceremony. “There is going to be some challenging times, I have no doubt about that, and there will be a disruption here at the community. Hopefully by this time next year, we will nearing the end of the project.”

The project will remodel the “central core of the community,” according to James, from the private dining rooms in the community to the main connector building and residential A Building.

“We will have a new multi-purpose room, new bistro, new formal dining, new library, new card room, new retail shop and a new arts and crafts room,” James said. “It’s overwhelming, but very exciting.”

“Since it’s opening in 1992, Tryon has continued to reinvest in the community and it has done so by the care and response to the residents in their wants and needs,” Coxson said. “We are keeping pace with the expectations of our residents. Through this continued reinvestment in Tryon Estates and meeting the wants and needs of our existing residents and residents to follow, we recognized the importance of the project.”