The Friends of the Wallace Center celebrated “Community Day” on Saturday, welcoming the public to step inside 299 Greenwich Avenue and check out the renderings of proposed improvements in the facility.
The building is home to the Wallace Center, in addition to several non profit organizations including Greenwich Arts Council, Greenwich Art Society, Open Arts Alliance, Alliance Française and others.
The Beaux-Arts building at 299 Greenwich Ave previously served as the seat of town government. Sept. 20, 2025 Photo: Leslie Yager
The historic Beaux-Arts building at 299 Greenwich Avenue was donated to the town of Greenwich in 1904 by Robert Moffat Bruce and his sister, Sarah E. Bruce. It served as the seat of town government, with offices for selectmen, municipal courts and jail cells.
Some jail cell bars are still in place, a fun fact that was a topic of conversation among people checking out the renderings.
Wendy Day and Adele Rota co-chaired Community Day at The Wallace Center. Sept 20, 2025 Photo: Leslie Yager
The event was co-chaired by Adele Rota and Wendy Day.
The Wallace Center (formerly the Senior Center), was renamed in 2024 after Mary Louise Wallace, who died in 2021 and whose philanthropy made possible the new kitchen and dining room.
Volunteers Meg Kaicher and Stephanie Thompson, both with Coldwell Banker Realty, volunteered during the Community Day event. Sept 20, 2025 Photo: Leslie Yager
The Friends group, a 501(c)3 organization that was created to raise funds for the ongoing phased renovation of the facility and its programs, organized a series of events to showcase the Wallace Center and raise funds toward the next phase of the renovation.
The day’s activities kicked off with bagels from Upper Crust Bagel OG and coffee and hot chocolate from Starbucks Greenwich Ave in the morning.
Greenwich Country Day School students provided live music.
State Rep Hector Arzeno (D-151) with Community Day co-chair Adele Rota, State Rep Steve Meskers (D-150) with Wallace Center renderings from future phases of renovation. Photo: Ashod Kassabian Sept 20, 2025
Roger Musetti and Frank Rota outside the Wallace Center during Community Day. Sept 20, 2025 Photo: Leslie Yager
Wendy Rosa led a dance class outside the Wallace Center during Community Day. Sept 20, 2025 Photo: Leslie Yager
Everyone was invited to choose among several yoga sessions with Jeannie Labate and dance session with Wendy Rosa.
It was a warm day, which made the presence of the Ice Cream Emergency truck – sponsored by Wendy Day of Dwell Senior Advisors – very popular.
State Rep (D-150) Steve Meskers said he and Rep Arzeno were pleased to stop by the event.
“In 2020 I was able to secure $300,000 of funding for kitchen and dining room restoration at the Wallace Center,” Meskers said. “We’re thrilled to see the new project coming forward to improve the overall facility to profound improvement in the quality of life for seniors. It fits with the theme that Hector and I have always carried forward, which is protecting and supporting our youth and our support of public education, the Boys and Girls Club, Boy Scouts, Cos Cob Library, and most recently, the YWCA Greenwich.”
“I want to thank Adele Rota for her outreach,” he added. “Special thanks to Adele for championing this process and her role there.”
The Ice Cream Emergency truck, sponsored by Wendy Day of Dwell Senior Advisors, was popular on the warm Saturday Community Day event. Sept 20, 2025 Photo: Leslie Yager.
Wendy Rosa led a dance class outside the Wallace Center during Community Day. Sept 20, 2025 Photo: Leslie Yager
QA+M Architecture rendering of Activity Room on display in the lobby of 299 Greenwich Ave.
QA+M Architecture rendering of Main Entrance on display in the lobby of 299 Greenwich Ave.
QA+M Architecture rendering of soft classroom and member lounge on display in the lobby of 299 Greenwich Ave.
QA+M Architecture rendering of Fitness Room on display in the lobby of 299 Greenwich Ave.
Consider making a donation to Friends of the Wallace Center to help them continue providing exercise and fitness classes, and health and wellness offerings, sponsor members in need, and contribute to efforts to improve the facilities.
For more information about the Wallace Center and its programs, or to become a member, please contact the Wallace Center at 203-862-6700.