Margaret Flinner, AIA, architectural director in the Washington, D.C. office of the world-class architectural firm of Ellerbe Becket (EB), is the project designer of the 71,000-square-foot Sports & Fitness Facility on the law school campus of Georgetown University. Formally dedicated in October 2004, the new building contains a swimming pool on the lower level, restaurant and student lounge on the first floor, fitness center and exercise rooms on the second level, topped off by a gymnasium and racquet ball courts on the third floor.

Specializing in sports and athletic venues, Flinner reports to the EB Washington, D.C. office, which is the hub for EB’s world-wide higher education recreation center marketing and design. “Because our sports venues showcase lots of exposed, structural steel, we have been specifying Tnemec high-performance coatings for years,” Flinner said. “We appreciate the fact that Tnemec coatings contribute to the durability, quality and clean, beautiful lines of our athletic venues.”

Working closely with Tnemec coating consultant Todd Guntner, Flinner specifically wanted the look of Tnemec’s Series 1078 Fluoronar Metallic to provide color and gloss for the exterior “tree-like” support columns. “Tnemec’s coatings beautifully complement the striking, structural steel trusses which support the roof and penetrate the full glass curtain wall, bringing profuse light to all floors of the Center.” Flinner selected Series 1077 Enduralume — another member of the Tnemec Premier Finishes family — in a matching grey color to bring the same look and feel indoors.

“We completed phase three of a five phase renovation of the historic Payne Whitney Gym at Yale University, New Haven, Conn.,” Flinner said. “The next phase, the natatorium, to include a 50-meter pool and diving facility, will most certainly feature another Tnemec high-performance coating system. As with the Georgetown Law Center Sports & Fitness Facility, Tnemec will be an integral component of our design.”