Massage training center plans sustainable expansion

The Professional Massage Training Center on Thursday revealed plans to use sustainable methods in its renovation of a second building on Commercial Street.

The center has purchased the 4,700-square-foot building at 233 E. Commercial St., directly east of its current home at 229 E. Commercial St., to house expanding operations. Owner and Director Juliet Mee detailed plans for the project yesterday at the Commercial Street EPA National Sustainability Pilot Workshop.

"In our view, quality is more than just comfortable and visually appealing spaces with the latest technology," Mee said in a news release. "While we do provide that, quality should also be measured by how our facility affects the health of our students, the vitality of our faculty and staff and the future of our environment."

The renovated building, which previously was home to Davis Appliance Store, will feature new admissions offices, expanded classrooms, a new spa clinic, a rooftop garden and terrace, high albedo roof decking, graywater harvesting and solar water heaters. It also will have recycled artwork from paper, wood and metal; recycled glass mosaic tile; countertops made from post-consumer glass; and floors with locally sourced reclaimed wood, according to the release.

Architect Robbie Price of Simon Oswald Architects in Columbia will oversee the project, with construction to start in the near future.

The center, founded in 1994, offers two 900-hour massage therapy-training programs that are approved by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork.