Boys & Girls Clubs of Bellevue (BGCB) will swing open the doors July 12 to “The Club,” the former Lake Hills library (15228 Lake Hills Blvd, Bellevue) they purchased and converted into a long awaited teen center. The 3:30 event will showcase the 10,000 square foot open floor plan that features a performance stage, game room, teaching kitchen, technology center and learning lounge.

More than 150 youth per day are expected to attend the center.

“We are thrilled to open this dynamic space for our teens and tweens,: said Boys & Girls Clubs of Bellevue CEO, Kathy Haggart.”It will offer four times the existing space we have for our teen members and is located in East Bellevue, where we are committed to expanding our reach.”

The club’s mantra is “make if fun,” Haggart added, so even the opening will have a teen centric flavor. BGCB has teamed up with Coca-Cola and Domino’s Pizza to incorporate a pizza cooking competition into the grand opening festivities.

“Using our BE Healthy Initiative as a backdrop, Coca-Cola and Domino’s will help teach our teen competitors about safe food handling, balanced calories and using fresh ingredients,” Haggart said.

The winners of a series of cooking contests at the Club will form the final four teams who will compete in the Pizza Cooking Competition on the opening day. The teams will compete based on three criteria – presentation, nutritional balance and taste. Presentation and nutritional balance will be judged by a celebrity panel. Taste will be judged by the teens attending the opening.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Bellevue was established in 1952. Currently the organization has 13 sites throughout the city of Bellevue and serves children 2 ½ – 19 years of age.

Schedule of events:

3 p.m. – Teams meet at Domino’s Pizza to design, assemble and cook their creations, Crossroads Dominos – 15920 NE Eighth St.

3:30 p.m. – Guests arrive at The Club

3:45 p.m. – Doors open at The Club

3:45 p.m. – Tours

4 p.m. – Grand Opening ceremony: CEO, Kathy Haggart; Mayor Conrad Lee; Domonique Gillett, Youth of the Year (emcee); Sounder’s player; Board President, Leo Backer

4:20 p.m. – Pizza Teams arrive with their pizza creations

4:20 – 4:35 p.m. – Judging

4:35 p.m. – Announce winners

4:50 p.m. – Guests eat

5:45-6 p.m. – Tours & social