PHOTOS: See the Brookline Teen Center in the Making

Back in the first week of March, Executive Director for the Brookline Teen Center Matt Cooney spoke before the Board of Selectmen about the new and awesome sounding Teen Center.

Cooney told the Board that this hangout mecca would feature two lanes of candlepin bowling, a recording studio, a half-court basketball court, a healthy café, a game and media room, an academic mezzanine with classroom space and private workspaces for projects, studying or tutoring, a gym, and a yoga/dance studio.

But how could anyone pull something like this off?

Brookline’s Kaplan Construction and Studio MLA Architects teamed up to convert the old auto body shop at 40 Aspinwall Avenue from an unused 10,000-square-foot concrete bunker to a safe place for kids to hang out, study, exercise and eat.

“It took about three years to find this site and two years to secure the lease,” Director of Operations Gwen Ossenfort said. “We’re six months into the project now and just over half way done. We’re right on schedule.”

The Brookline Teen Center is a privately funded organization that has partnered with the Brookline Bank, Advanced Digital Websites, BATV, the Brookline Community Foundation and Team Brookline.

They have currently raised about $5 million, but are looking to raise $8 to $10 million.

The Teen Center should be open in time for the 2013-14 school year.