But the building could be closed for 18 months while the work is carried out.
The centre, which was described as being in a crisis by Fife councillors, has been allocated a minimum of £2.3 million for repairs after lengthy debates as to whether a renovation was enough to save it from closing in the future. Already shows have had to be cancelled and audiences moved around due to a leaking roof, while traces of asbestos have been found in the building.
Broken windows and old interiors have also led to the centre being described as 'dilapidated', 'tired' and 'in disrepair'.
At the housing and communities committee last week councillors asked that a minimum of £2.3 million be brought forward from the capital plan for repairs – on the provision they got more information about the state of the building. Kirkcaldy councillor David Ross asked for a decision to be deferred until more was known about what work was actually needed.
He said: "The centre is important in Fife and we need to make sure the proposal is going to be fit for purpose. There are some alarm bells ringing for me.
''People are expecting to get a lot more than we can deliver here. I note there is asbestos to be removed and it has been said to me that when we get in to the building the structure of it may need more money. We need to take a step back here and reflect on how we are going to make it work."
The committee rejected another option proposed - a new-build centre with a small budget - which would mean a much smaller building with less community use provision.
Head of community services Steve Grimmond said: "The cost of refurbishment of £2.3m is significantly in excess of the level of funding identified in the capital programme, but that shows the gravity of the situation the centre is facing.
"The facilities that can be delivered for that amount of money in terms of new-build would be significantly diminished.''
Local councillor Ian Chisholm welcomed the refurbishment of the Lochgelly Centre.
He said: "This is a real boost for the town.
"The Centre has been crumbling and in dire need of an upgrade for years. As a new Councillor I am pleased that my lobbying efforts have been fruitful and I look forward to some visionary plans being put to the community.
"I was at the opening of the stunning Inverkeithing Civic Centre a couple of weeks ago and I would urge anyone passing through the town to go and have a look at the innovative work that has been done to transform this sixties building."
The Lochgelly and Cardenden councillor added: "Given the global economic downturn and its likely effect in delaying developers achieving early completion of the 1400 houses called for in the draft Local Plan, I doubt if funding in the region of £20m could have been secured before our Centre fell apart.
"However, the refurbishment option will give a new lease of life estimated at 10 to 15 years which in my book puts the option of a replacement new facility in kilter with the new housing and new blood coming to Lochgelly.
"It is a pity that the Centre will, of course have to close during the works but I look forward to a magical opening gala."
He said he was pleased, too, that the council would explore the possibility of co-location with the NHS and others, pointing out that the health centre was overstretched that Fife NHS could have some funding available for a replacement project.