Student Fitness Center Earns Two Design Awards

Press Release

Date: Nov. 14, 2011

Contacts: Pat Sisneros, Vice President of College Services, 425-388-9232; psisneros@everettcc.edu

Two Design Awards for Everett Community College Student Fitness Center

EVERETT, WA – Everett Community College's Student Fitness Center has earned awards from the International Interior Design Association (IIDA) and American Institute of Architects (AIA).

The 49,000 square foot Student Fitness Center, which opened in January 2011, earned citation awards in October from the Oregon chapter of the IIDA and was honored at the Portland design awards ceremony for the AIA.

The building was designed by SRG Partnership, Inc. of Seattle, which also has an office in Portland. The general contractor was California-headquartered Panattoni, which has an office in Tukwila.

The awards praised the buildings for its "comprehensive and cohesive feel," noting the connection between the interior and exterior of the building and use of color on the inside to bring "life and cohesiveness to interior spaces."

The $19.5 million center includes classrooms for physical education and health programs, a gym with retractable bleacher seating for 2,250, a cardio and free weight training room, a climbing wall, running track, juice bar, a multi-purpose small gym and offices for faculty and staff.

The center also includes space for intercollegiate athletics and activities.

The Student Fitness Center replaced the college's 1958 gym, which was demolished in August 2009. EvCC salvaged part of old gym floor and bricks to incorporate into the design of the new Student Fitness Center to preserve a part of the college's history.

The Student Fitness Center is funded through a combination of existing college funds and student fees. Students approved paying 40 percent of the cost of the gym through a fee approved by a student vote in spring 2007.

For more information and photos of the Student Fitness Center, visit the Fitness Center homepage.