We are proud to share that the National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA) today announced their 2017 Outstanding Sports Facilities (OSF) awards, a list that included four facilities designed by CannonDesign. The winners include:
- University of California Riverside, Student Recreation Center
- University of Missouri-St. Louis, Wellness/Recreation Center
- University of Victoria, Centre for Athletics, Recreation and Special Abilities
- Northern Kentucky University, Campus Recreation Center
We are thrilled for our clients and proud to have partnered with institutions focused on creating spaces that drive value for their students, campuses and communities. Each year NIRSA selects around 10-15 collegiate recreation facilities to receive these awards – it is truly an honor to be selected.
We’d like to extend our congratulations to every college and university that earned a NIRSA OSF award this year. Below, are overviews and images of the four projects we helped make a reality.
University of California Riverside, Student Recreation Center
Embedded in the University of California Riverside (UCR) mission statement is a commitment to enhancing the quality of life for the people of California and specifically their students. UCR’s newly renovated and expanded recreation center is a testament to that commitment. The revamped 155,000 sf LEED Gold center has become a must-visit hub for students and recruits that expands recreational programming, introduces new amenities and stands out for its architectural design. Since the center opened, UCR has realized a 68% increase in its overall usage and participation rates.
University of Missouri-St. Louis, Wellness/Recreation Center
With research and reports indicating that University of Missouri-St. Louis’ (UMSL) campus recreation offerings were far blow student expectations, the student body at UMSL passed a referendum in resounding support of a new student recreation center. In addition to providing the students a state-of-the-art recreation facility, the university created a transformational building, unifying campus buildings, green space and pedestrian pathways at the heart of its campus, all while representing a physical bridge to UMSL’s future.
University of Victoria, Centre for Athletics, Recreation and Special Abilities
The University of Victoria (UVic) Centre for Athletics, Recreation and Special Abilities (CARSA) is a new facility that delivers best-in-class recreation, athletics training, research and learning spaces to the UVic campus population: students, staff and faculty and its valued surrounding community. The building is also a new home for CanAssist, a UVic organization dedicated to helping people with disabilities improve their quality of life and increasing awareness of disability issues.
Northern Kentucky University Campus Recreation Center
Northern Kentucky University (NKU) is a comprehensive public university located in a major metropolitan area and focused on empowering its graduates to have fulfilling careers and meaningful lives. A central piece in the pursuit of meaningful lives is a focus on health and wellness. NKU has long reflected its commitment to student health with strong facilities and programming that invite students and the entire campus community to be active and healthy.
Recognizing its existing student recreation center no longer offered the optimal spaces to empower students in this way, NKU teamed with CannonDesign and Omni Architects on a 164,000 expansion/renovation effort to update its facilities and incorporate new offerings responsive to the shifting needs of student recreation. This effort renews NKUs commitment to student health and meaningful lives as its updates recreational offerings and programming for the future.