MIT's new Al and Barrie Zesiger Sports and Fitness Center has been hailed by the campus and architecture communities for its beauty and expansive facilities since it opened in October 2002. This month the center received national recognition by the sports and fitness industry.
The Zesiger Center was honored as one of 10 national Facility of Merit winners at the annual Athletic Business Conference in Orlando, Fla. on Dec. 5. The awards program recognizes facilities that set the design and functionality standard for athletic, recreation and fitness projects.
Judges selected the winners from nearly 100 entries that included college recreation centers, professional sports venues, municipal recreation projects and high school athletic complexes.
The Zesiger Center features a triple-height natatorium with an Olympic-size pool and an amphitheater seating 450 spectators; a separate, eight-lane, 25-yard instructional pool; fitness rooms; six international squash courts; and a multipurpose activity court. It also houses the administrative offices for the Department of Physical Education, Athletics and Recreation.
The 120,000 square-foot facility was designed by Sasaki Associates, Inc., in collaboration with Kevin Roche, John Dinkeloo and Associates, LLC.
