The public got its first glimpse Thursday at Community Counseling Center's new building on South Irvine Avenue in Sharon with a presentation about schizophrenia.

Fran Lokar, a recruiter for research into the causes of schizophrenia and related conditions for Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic at UPMC Presbyterian in Pittsburgh, spoke briefly about the causes and symptoms of schizophrenia and its treatment. He also spoke about a research study of schizophrenia at UPMC.

Although programs at Enhancing Community Horizons and Opportunities, or ECHO, will not begin until March 3 and an official grand opening won't happen until the end of March or early April, Lokar's presentation provided a first glimpse of Community Counseling Center's new facilities.

Community Counseling, based in Hermitage, had owned the lot the building now stands on since 1987. Since refurbishing the previous building was not financially feasible, the center tore it down last April to build the 7,000-square-foot modular building that stands there now.

The building arrived in about 10 pieces last November.

"By 6 p.m. that night, we had a building," said Fran Billen, community support services director for Community Counseling. "The boxes came together like Legos."

Staff will start moving into the building on Thursday. Despite ongoing construction, programs will begin three days later, Ms. Billen said.

Half of the downstairs area of the building will be Our Friend's Place, where mental health consumers can drop in to relax, play cards and visit with each other. The other half will be for social rehabilitation.

Upstairs are four community residential rehabilitation apartments. Each of the two-bedroom apartments has its own bathroom, kitchen and living area, and can house up to eight people. Residents, who may remain in the apartments for up to two years, will be monitored by an on-site caseworker.

The building will also have an emergency shelter unit managed by the Mercer County Housing Coalition. The shelter can hold up to four members of a family for 30 days at a time. A family can use it only once every three years.

The new building is being paid for through state money and money from the Mercer County Behavioral Health Commission.