Brown University Dedicates Fitness and Aquatics Center

May 25, 2012

Today Brown University dedicated a new Fitness and Aquatics Center.  The 84,000-square foot building, composed of three distinctly articulated parts— the Nelson Fitness Center, the David J. Zucconi '55 Varsity Strength and Conditioning Center, and the  Katherine Moran Coleman Aquatics Center—brings the architectural character of the campus's historic brick buildings to the northeastern edge of Brown's campus while also acknowledging Providence's tradition of robustly classical industrial buildings, and provides a new quadrangle at the gateway to Brown's evolving Erickson Athletic Complex. 

“This exceptional complex would not have been possible without the support of donors who care deeply about this University and the facilities we offer our students," said Brown's President Ruth J. Simmons. "I especially applaud the vision that went into the design of this complex. It is not only strikingly beautiful and well-suited to the surrounding neighborhood, it is energy efficient, using solar technology to heat the million gallons of pool water.” 

"With this building we dedicate today, the athletics quad has begun to speak, with its architecture and with its landscape, the language of Brown," said Robert A.M. Stern.  "The Fitness and Aquatics Center, along with Ittleson Quadrangle, is intended as a first step toward recapturing Brown’s characteristic pattern of low-key red brick Georgian buildings defining quadrangles."

The roof of the Aquatics Center features an array of solar panels, the largest hybrid solar-powered electrical and heating installation in the United States, that generate enough power to light the building and enough thermal energy to heat the center's million-gallon pool.

RAMSA Partner Gary Brewer worked with Mr. Stern on the project.  The Fitness and Aquatics Center is on track for LEED Silver Certification.