“It’s not about a big building. It’s about what happens inside the building,” said Kelley Coen, newly appointed CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Newport County.
She shared the remark at a recent Greater Newport Chamber of Commerce Women of Distinction event, where Coen was interviewed by Newport Chamber CEO Erin Donovan-Boyle.
A native of western Massachusetts, and a graduate of Salve Regina University, Coen brings deep local career roots and relationships to the role. Since joining the national non-profit organization in 2019, she has held senior leadership positions there, while previously building a career that included roles at LEGO, the Preservation Society of Newport County, Salve Regina University, and Newport Hospital. Now, she is guiding the next phase of growth in programming, operations, and facilities for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Newport County.
Coen’s team recently hosted a sneak peek of the major renovation underway at 95 Church Street, in the heart of Newport’s Historic Hill, situated just behind the Hotel Viking. The familiar red building—which is known as the Thayer School Building and central to today’s Boys & Girls Clubs—was originally constructed in the late 1800s as Newport’s first high school. By 1927, its academic role had ended, and for the next three decades it served a variety of purposes, including housing the Newport Chamber of Commerce. In 1957, the Boys Club of Newport County moved into the building; it later merged with the Girls Club in 1980, forming the organization that’s known today.
A Hard Hat Tour with a Soft Focus
Stepping over construction materials and greeting workers by name, Coen guided several visitors through an informal hard hat tour, pointing out plans for the Club’s transformation.
A glass-enclosed connector with an elevator will link the Thayer Building to other sections of the facility, adding space while improving accessibility and flow. The original wooden staircase from the school’s main lobby has been preserved as part of the organization’s historic preservation agreement.
In addition to the Clubhouse’s gymnasium (added in the 1960s) and aquatic center (aka natatorium), the updated facility will include a highly secure Welcome Center with electronic access controls at every entrance. New classrooms—featuring Jack-and-Jill restroom access—will anchor the lower level, alongside a large cafeteria. Upstairs, administrative offices will occupy a dedicated tier, while new unisex locker rooms near the pool will balance privacy and inclusivity for both children and adults. Outside, a redesigned and more accessible playground will serve children of all ages and abilities.
Honoring the neighborhood’s historic character, three original exterior tiles are being reproduced and will form a primary-color ribbon along the upper façade. Behind the scenes, a new HVAC system will bring modern climate control to the facility. The gymnasium will receive a modest facelift, allowing renovation funding to focus primarily on safety and operational improvements. Coen noted that the project – to date – is on time and on budget.
“In this important next chapter, we are all striving for operational excellence,” Coen said. “We’re taking a historic building and planning for the future.”
Recognizing the challenges of parking and commuting in downtown Newport, the project also includes regrading and redesigning the drop-off area in front of the building to better accommodate buses—reducing car traffic and improving safety along the narrow street.
The Mission and The Official Re-Opening
The organization’s mission is to inspire and enable young people, especially those who need it most, to reach their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens.
The Central Clubhouse on Church Street will serve children ages 5–14, while the North End Clubhouse (aka, the Florence Gray Center) will be reimagined as a dedicated Teen Center for ages 15–18.
All teachers are licensed childcare educators, and more staff training is underway ahead of a planned soft opening this November. The official reopening is scheduled for January 4, 2027, coinciding with the first day of school. The organization currently employs approximately 25 full-time and 25 part-time staff, with additional seasonal support during the summer.
Providence-based Union Studio Architecture & Community Design is leading the design, in collaboration with local building contractor Behan Bros.
Why Coen is a Women of Distinction
At last month’s event, Donovan-Boyle noted, “When I think of all you’ve done, Kelley, you’ve really helped to shape the character of Newport.”
Coen responded, “I have immense gratitude, but I also have a great responsibility.”
She emphasized the vital role women specifically play in Newport’s nonprofit sector, adding, “If you take these people—who have great potential and are making big strides—out of Newport, it would be a very different place.” Those who were gathered at the event had the sense Coen was referring to both those that make time and talent contributions to support our city’s non-profits, and the children and adults who are in need of community services.
Then, humbly-yet-confident, she added: “And, I’m just getting started.”
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Newport County’s signature fundraiser, the Newport Yacht Rendezvous, will take place Friday, June 26, 2026, at Safe Harbor Newport Shipyard. For more information, visit www.bgcnewport.org.
Michele Gallagher isan advocate of local businesses, community leaders, and non-profits and is the founder of City-by-the-Sea Communications.
