LATHROP – The Generations Center is a testament to municipal perseverance.

And it’ll soon house a lot more than the funky windows and vaulted turret that have sprung up in the open space across from Lathrop High School.

The design of the building – crafted by Manteca architect Eric Wohle – earned it a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, and in order to meet those requirements prior to its expected June opening the space must undergo a “flushing” period where the building’s gases are adjusted based on the furniture that will occupy its interior space.

That means nearly $50,000 worth of furniture is on its way so that the 24-day process can be completed in enough time.

It was Lathrop’s dogged pursuit of a California State Parks grant for $5 million that allowed the state-of-the-art building – which will house the city’s teen center and a new library space – to be constructed. A massive community complex including an amphitheater, a skate park, a parkour course and a community garden was designed to wrap around the building.

The Lathrop City Council approved a contract with Staples that will allow for the purchase of the building’s interior furniture and complete the last step of the “clean air” requirement process. The LEED certification is a landmark in building design, and Wohle used large, peculiarly-placed windows to give it both an edgy design and maximize the amount of available light – cutting down on energy costs.

The building’s final construction aspects are expected to be completed in with a matter of weeks. A grand opening celebration marking the community unveiling is planned for June.

Some people just couldn’t wait for the work to be finished.

Crews finishing the gunite in the skate park had to place blankets in the bottom of the pools to discourage trespassing skateboarders from hopping fences and testing their luck around exposed rebar and barren sections.

The building was completed by Diede Construction – the same firm hired to complete Manteca’s litany of new municipal projects including the transit center, the corporation yard, the animal shelter and the new fire station serving the residents at Del Webb.

At a cost of $48,619.61, the furniture was already included in the 2013/14 municipal budget.