It's not difficult to see how incredibly impressed Mary Faber is with the new Federal Way Community Center.

After a wait of more than three years, she now helps administrate one of the state's largest community facilities.

The Community Center's opening in March also means that years of hard work have also helped turn its supporters' dreams into reality.

Faber, the facility's Recreation and Cultural Services Superintendent, has watched the 72,000 square foot building transform from concepts to concrete, and she - like many others in Federal Way - acknowledge the important role the center will play in connecting the community around a physical hub.

The building effectively combines the services once held in smaller venues around the city.

Federal Way residents can bid farewell to the Kenneth Jones pool and the Klahanee Lake Community Center, while welcoming considerably expanded activities and enhanced resources found in the new facility.

Located on the southern end of Celebration Park at its new home at 876 S. 333rd St., the Community Center links City Hall with the open space the building's architects tried to emulate.

"We're part of the Celebration Park property," Faber said, "and we've tried to make connections within the park to the natural areas around."

With an abundance of natural light and a heavily-wooded backdrop, Faber said the center's location gives the sensation of being outdoors, even when the weather doesn't cooperate.

Even the decor, right down to the carved fireplace in the lounge to the mosaics of Puget Sound wildlife, attempts to evoke a sense of communing with nature.

"We've really tried to blend into the landscape," Faber said. "We used natural colors and Northwest landscaping, with artwork that connects the outside spaces to the inside."

"We really thought a lot about this building's placement," Faber said.

A large glass mural over the entrance welcomes visitors and serves to define what Faber believes is the center's role in the community."

"The artworks shows that we are centered around fitness and that the Community Center is the heart of the community," she said.

"We wanted to build a location that people felt was theirs and that they could feel a connection back to Federal Way," Faber added.

Visitors will find the center's amenities as impressive as its decor.

The Federal Way Community Center features a six lane lap pool with diving board, a leisure pool with a lazy river, three athletic gymnasiums, a steam room, three multi-purpose rooms, a walking and jogging track, a group exercise studio, and a weight and fitness facility.

The community wing features a child care and facility, and preschool classes, a senior lounge and a full-blown commercial kitchen.

"We really wanted to give this part of the building a much more homey feel than like an office," Faber said, pointing out the gas fireplace that served as a centerpiece for a group of seniors taking bridge lessons.

Faber also pointed out that the center also rents its facilities for birthday and pool parties, conferences and weddings.

Participation in any of the center's numerous classes also allows visitors to use the athletic facilities for free.

Since opening in March, Faber noted a significant increase in attendance as the center grows in popularity with the community.

"There's definitely been some build up," Faber said.

Annual memberships start at $225 per year for youth, up to $450 for an annual membership for adult residents of Federal Way.

Faber said the center currently offers new members a five percent discount on standard rates through the end of the year.

For more information give the center a call at 253-835-6900 or log on to www.cityoffederaway.com.