The Susan P. and Richard A. Friedman Study Center has been awarded “Top Design 2007 in Education” by Contract Magazine. Calling it “the vibrant heart of campus,” the magazine lauded Friedman’s mixture of spaces for study and socializing and eclectic design. Panelists heaped praise on the work by New York-based Architecture Research Office commenting on the “innovative use of materials. Bright, energized, environment. They did a lot with a little budget. Integration of graphics and ideas brought a fresh new perspective.”

“The Friedman Center is a bold and innovative addition to Brown’s campus,” said Harriette Hemmasi, Joukowsky Family University Librarian. “I am grateful to the panelists at Contract for recognizing and rewarding the hard work that went into its creative design and for selecting the Friedman Center to receive this honor. While I am happy that the Friedman Center has been heralded for its vibrant color scheme and seamless blend of spaces for study and hanging out, I am most pleased that it is such a tremendous hit with the toughest jury of all – our students. The packed computer clusters, crowded café area, and throngs of students studying independently or in groups are a familiar sight on any night of the week. To have an award is further proof that Friedman plays an important part in the experience of all Brown students.”

This is the second major design award for the Friedman Study Center, which received gold medals in “Commercial Interior Design” and “Commercial Construction/Renovation” in November’s issue of Rhode Island Monthly Magazine. The 24-hour study center is a locus of social and scholarly life on campus, receiving nearly a quarter of a million visits in the past semester alone.

A national publication from Nielsen Business Publications, USA, Contract Magazine covers the commercial design industry. To read the full text of the article, please visit: http://www.contractconnected.com/0108/index.php?section=2&article=7&page=0