Providence, R.I.--The Concannon Fitness Center at Providence College has been recognized for exemplary design by a national magazine that specializes in education design projects.

American School & University bestowed an "Outstanding Design" recognition on the fitness center in the magazine's 2008 "Educational Interiors Showcase" issue, which is published annually.

Providence College was one of 10 institutions cited nationally in the Physical-Education Facilities/Recreation Centers category. In all, six colleges or universities were honored for outstanding design, including an athletic complex at the University of Tulsa and an athletic building at Florida Gulf Coast University.

The American School & University recognition represents the fourth design-related honor for Providence College facilities in the last two years. Awards previously were presented for the Suites Hall residence facility; Martin Hall, which houses the Office of Institutional Advancement; and the artificial-turf field/underground parking garage.

The 23,000-square-foot Concannon Fitness Center, which was designed by Symmes, Maini & McKee Associates (SMMA) of Cambridge, Mass., opened in September 2007. It is named for the family of Board of Trustees member William F. Concannon '77, who provided a $2 million lead gift.

In its "Outstanding Designs" description, American School & University called the fitness center a "major destination" on campus for members of the College community and visitors. The magazine cited the center's Atrium as a "light-filled" entrance to the Peterson Recreation Center, the Slavin Center, and Alumni Hall.

The description also noted the facility's views of the Taylor Natatorium swimming pool in Peterson and of the artificial-turf field.

As noted previously, the American School & University recognition is one of three design-related awards involving PC facilities in recent years. A description of the others follows:

• Suites Hall received a Silver Award in the Residential Multi-Family category in the 2007 Brick in Home Building Awards competition. Bestowed by the Brick Industry Association, the award acknowledged the masonry design in the residence facility, which opened in 2004. Suites Hall was designed by SMMA.
• The American Council of Engineering Companies of Massachusetts presented a 2007 Gold Award for "Outstanding Professional Design Excellence" for the artificial-turf field/underground parking garage. The architects for the field and garage, which opened in 2005, were JJA Sports of Westford, Mass., and SMMA, respectively. The field is officially known as the Friar Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex.
• The Providence Preservation Society recognized the College's restoration of historic Martin Hall with a 2006 Adaptive Reuse/Institutional Award. Previously used as housing for the College's Dominican Community, Martin Hall was restored in 2004 and 2005 for use by the alumni relations and advancement offices of the Office of Institutional Advancement.

View more at the American School & University site.