Fitness Center Wins Major Design Award

Photo by Tom Watson

Ithaca College's Fitness Center was named a "facility of merit" for the year 2000 by Athletic Business magazine, one of only 10 athletic and recreational facilities in the United States and Canada to receive such an honor. The record 103 entries for the award were judged by a national panel of 7 architects. The center, designed by HOLT Architects of Ithaca, was praised for its coordination with existing campus structures and for the way the 42,800-square-foot facility harmoniously integrates two gyms, an aerobics/dance studio, exercise area, and locker rooms. "Interior and exterior details are very well designed and applied," wrote David Finci, a judge from the Hillier Group of New York.

The 10 winners were published in the December issue of Athletic Business. Brad Buchanan, manager of the College's recreational sports programs, and Anton Christiansen of HOLT Architects traveled to Orlando to accept the award at the 2000 Athletic Business Conference. "Members of the campus community have been giving us a lot of positive feedback on the way the Fitness Center has benefited them," says Buchanan. "To know that a national panel of architects has recognized this facility as truly excellent is a great honor."

In receiving these accolades the Fitness Center joins such facilities as the Canseco Fieldhouse, home court of the NBA's Indiana Pacers; Blair County Ballpark, home field for the Altoona Curve minor league baseball team; and the McLane Student Life Center at Baylor University.