Pictured: From left, Michael A. Ruane, chair of the Board of Trustees, with William F. Concannon, and College President Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P. at the announcement of the naming of the new fitness center.

Providence, RI--Providence College's new 23,000 square foot, state-of-the-art fitness and training facility will be called the Concannon Fitness Center. College President Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P. made the announcement during the Board of Trustees’ meeting on June 8, 2007, as part of the Board of Trustees two-day meetings.

The center, which is scheduled to open in August, is named after trustee William F. Concannon '77. In January 2007, Concannon made a leadership gift of $2 million to the fitness center, representing the largest gift in College history supporting a fitness/athletics initiative. 

A formal event to dedicate the new facility is scheduled for Thursday, October 4, 2007, in conjunction with the fall Board of Trustees meeting.

Concannon is vice chairman of CB Richard Ellis, the industry leader in the field of commercial real estate brokerage, corporate real estate services, and investment management. He has served as a member of the Board of Trustees since 2002. He chairs the board's Strategic Planning Committee and serves on the Finance Committee.

Concannon has been a generous benefactor to the College in recent years. In addition to providing significant support for the Annual Fund, he has donated funds for the building of St. Dominic Chapel and the Smith Center for the Arts, as well as for special needs in the Department of Athletics.

In explaining the rationale for his $2 million leadership gift for the fitness center, Concannon said he had several motives. He said the center would provide undergraduates with new and exceptional fitness, conditioning, and athletic opportunities and would serve as an important health and wellness resource for the entire College community.

He also said the gift would allow his family and him to show their appreciation for his PC education. "My years at Providence College were among the best years of my life. The friendships I made through PC [club] football and lessons I learned have been extremely valuable to me," Concannon said.

He added that the fitness center "represents a new chapter of leadership" under College President Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P., who is completing his second year in office. "I am thrilled that the College is committed to offering our students, student-athletes, faculty, and staff the best facilities available," Concannon said.

The 23,000-square-foot center will offer state-of-the-art fitness and training facilities for the entire College community. The first level will be highlighted by an expansive area with cardiovascular and aerobic exercise equipment for the College community and a 5,100-square-foot weight-training and strengthening room for varsity student-athletes.

The second level will include areas for cardio-fitness equipment and free weights. Also on this level, there will be an observation level overlooking the artificial-turf field and a large room for meetings and social functions.

The fitness center will feature a soaring, three-story glass atrium and a new, unified main entrance to the Slavin Center, Alumni Hall, the Peterson Recreation Center, and the center itself.

The construction project also is incorporating significant improvements and renovations in Alumni Hall. These include an expanded and modernized sports medicine facility, a newly relocated ticket office, a new locker room for visiting teams, and new athletics laundry facilities. The projected cost for the overall project is $15 million, including $12 million for the fitness center.

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