January 14, 2002 SELINSGROVE, Pa. - The architectural firm that designed Susquehanna University's James W. Garrett Sports Complex has been presented with an Award of Excellence in Architectural Design, the second award the facility has garnered for its architect since its completion. The architect, Spillman Farmer Architects of Bethlehem, was presented the award by the Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Institute of Architects at the group's annual banquet in December. Project architect Daniel Harrigan says the sports complex design "incorporates a variety of new facilities while taking advantage of the existing campus infrastructure." The James W. Garrett Sports Complex, comprising the O.W. Houts Gymnasium and Clyde Jacobs Fitness Center, includes a 51,000-square-foot field house with four multi-sport courts and an indoor six-lane 200-meter track, concessions stand, lounge area, sports medicine and training facilities, and an observation deck. To permit a clear view of the newly constructed Nicholas A. Lopardo Stadium as well as the adjoining track and field facilities, the design incorporated a floor-to-ceiling glass wall on the north face. The west side of the building was expanded by the addition of the state-of-the-art fitness center, designed to provide the campus community with a more attractive and better-equipped space for fitness training. The 9,300-square-foot fitness center features a stunning curved-glass wall. Project architect Michael Black says the wall's orientation, facing a main walkway across the center of campus, "allows for visual connectivity of two spheres of activity. Pedestrians outside the facility can view the activities going on within, while those working out inside can look across campus." The Spillman Farmer Architects design for the university's sports complex will be among the winning architectural designs featured in a supplement in the Eastern Pennsylvania Business Journal later this month. It was the second major architectural award the facility design has won since the project's completion in 2001. The design was also awarded a citation by the national American School and University magazine and showcased in its 2001 Architectural Portfolio, published in December. Contact: Sam Alcorn 570-372-4119 #sa/1479#