In another part of the facility, four boys are playing the popular Xbox game Halo. A few other teenagers are watching television and using computers in a soundproof room.

The place has the feel of a college dormitory lounge, but it's actually The Venue, the teen center situated right behind Los Gatos High School.

"I come here to meet more people and just to have fun," junior Michael Buonaccorsi says. "There are a lot of things to do here."

The Venue—formerly The Outhouse—is operated by the nonprofit organization A Place For Teens. Last year, the Los Gatos-Saratoga Community Education and Recreation agency took over administrative duties of the center, and the building was renovated with donated funds.

New flooring was installed with grant funding from the San Jose Sharks Foundation, new paint and lighting spruced up the walls, video games were replaced and vending machines installed. Two Xbox game consoles were set up at different televisions and linked wirelessly for multi-player game play. Students helped build and paint new tables.

While the center's operators say the center saw about 12 to 20 teens per day a year ago, it now attracts about 200 to 300.

"This place ... was considered an after-school babysitting service," director Mike Loya says. "Now you're seeing a real teen center."

Loya, an employee of the recreation agency, is the only adult staff member of the facility. Larger events such as concerts are chaperoned by parents and board members, but much of the work is done by the teens themselves.

Junior DeAnne Lima regularly volunteers and hangs out at The Venue.

"I just started coming down here because all my friends did," Lima says. "A lot of people have friends that come over here."

Loya says he is pleased to see more students coming to the center and feeling comfortable. A new policy of only admitting people in high school or under 18 to concerts has given the center's board peace of mind that it is living up to its name by being a place for teens only. Most previous concerts were open to all ages.

In order to carry its success through to the next school year, A Place For Teens will offer outdoor movie nights, outdoor concerts, teen-only swim nights and other events this summer.

"The goal of this place is to get teens off the streets," Loya says. "The thought [of the summer programs] is, 'What do we do at night to accomplish that?' "

The students spending their lunch period at The Venue say they have seen attendance increase in recent months, and expect summer nights to be popular, too.

"They'll come because Mike's a great guy," junior Alyssa Uno says.

Uno joined A Place For Teens' board of directors after visiting The Venue earlier this school year and being impressed with the changes.

"It has improved since the first time I ever came here," Uno says. "I like this place. It's almost like a second home for me."

Freshman Nick Holmes says that even with the large number of students who visit, there is a core group of teens who are there regularly.

"It's like a big family," Holmes says.

A Place For Teens is seeking adult members for its board of directors. For more information, contact Mike Loya at 408.395.5553.