News from Brown
Source: https://www.brown.edu/news/2026-02-11/penner-field-house-indoor-turf Parent: https://www.brown.edu/news
Topics
Date
February 11, 2026 2026-02-11
Media Contact
Maggie Spear\ [email protected]\ 401-863-7287
Share
Facebook Twitter_X Linkedin Email
More ways to play: Penner Field House expands access to athletics and recreation at Brown
Since opening its doors in January, the University’s new, all-season indoor turf facility is already changing the game for both competition and community on campus.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/d3kCCmTWZOA
Penner Field House
The state-of-the-art indoor turf facility provides all-season training opportunities for student-athletes and those participating in recreation.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] — For weeks, snowbanks, ice and blustery winds have persisted across Providence as the city endures the brunt of a New England winter. But inside Brown University’s brand-new Penner Field House, students are training, playing and staying active without a single weather worry.
The 76,000-square-foot indoor turf facility, which replaced Meister-Kavan Field at the Erickson Athletic Complex, provides all-season, climate-controlled space for varsity teams, club sports, intramural leagues and recreational users. Before the facility opened in January, outdoor fields at Brown were often unavailable due to rain, snow or extreme temperatures, and indoor practice options were limited.
“Just having the option to play inside, especially when it’s freezing outside, is huge — it’s something we didn’t have before,” said senior Joy Okonye, a midfielder on Brown’s varsity women’s soccer team. “For my teammates and me, we’re able to put in extra reps, and it’s really fun to see other students playing and enjoying the space at the same time.”
Named in recognition of a generous gift from Brown parents Carrie Walton Penner and Greg Penner, the field house is lined for football, lacrosse, soccer and rugby, and equipped with divider curtains that allow the playing surface to be split into multiple sections. The facility also includes approximately 2,500 square feet dedicated to strength and conditioning, giving students additional space for individual workouts and team training.
“ Since [Penner Field House] opened, we’ve worked out there multiple times, and the improvements we’re seeing in speed and skill development are very real. ”
James Perry Brown Football Head Coach
Because it enables simultaneous practices, games and fitness activities, Penner Field House is already making its mark on campus, said Vice President for Athletics and Recreation M. Grace Calhoun.
“It’s quickly becoming a wonderful shared space where students from across the Brown community are coming together — to train, to play and to build routines around staying active,” Calhoun said.
For students stepping inside for the first time, the initial impression has been one of scale, energy and possibility.
“As soon as I walked into the field house, I noticed the smell of new turf and was shocked by how big the facility truly was,” said first-year student Meghan Royal, who officiates intramural games. “Even though I could tell it was large from the outside, the inside completely blew me away.”
Students said each detail feels intentional and welcoming, reflecting how the space was created not just for athletics competition, but community.
“Honestly, I love everything about the design,” Okonye said. “One of my favorite features is the big bear mural with the word ‘Together’ on the wall in the lifting room.”
Student-athletes attend an open house at the newly opened Penner Field House. Photos courtesy of Brown University Athletics.
Elevating varsity performance, expanding intramural opportunities
Varsity coaches, too, say the facility addresses longstanding challenges created by New England weather — from winter snow or summer lightning storms — and gives teams the consistent access they need to train, develop and compete at a higher level. Before the field house opened, teams frequently adjusted schedules or shortened sessions.
“We’ve been recruiting off this facility since it was first announced, and it’s already had a real impact,” Football Head Coach James Perry said. “Since it opened, we’ve worked out there multiple times, and the improvements we’re seeing in speed and skill development are very real.”
For the varsity baseball team, winter training once meant relying heavily on the Olney-Margolies Athletic Center, a space that posed some limitations due to its size and layout. But Penner Field House immediately changed that, said Head Coach Frank Holbrook.
“It allows us to practice elements of our game that simply can’t be simulated in a traditional indoor space,” Holbrook said. “It’s the closest thing to being outside on our field, and practicing on a surface that replicates game conditions is extremely important for us. Defensively, it should give us a real advantage compared to other cold-weather programs.”
Beyond varsity athletics, club sports and recreational participants say the facility has eased crowded schedules and created more reliable opportunities to train and play.
Brown names Penner Field House in recognition of generous gift
The investment from the Penner Family Foundation is providing crucial support for Brown to create 76,000 square feet of indoor space for high-performance athletic training and year-round recreational opportunities.\ \
As an intramural sports official, Royal finds herself at the field house several times a week and says the optimism is palpable.
“The new facility will really improve intramural sports at Brown,” she said. “Registration was challenging because of space limitations, and this will allow more people to compete while also introducing new sports, like kickball.”
Kickball is one of four new intramural sports offered this spring, according to Deputy Director of Athletics and Recreation Ray Grant. Along with indoor soccer, kickball play began in early February, and flag football and handball will make their debut on March 30.
The additional space afforded by the Penner Field House is expected to support approximately 500 more intramural participants this semester alone. With further expansion planned for the fall, the University anticipates accommodating up to 1,000 additional participants over the 2026–27 academic year, Grant said.
Calhoun said the level of activity already taking place reflects Brown’s broader commitment to supporting physical activity and well-being across campus.
“We expect the field house to become even more central to campus life as more students explore the space,” she said. “We’re deeply grateful to the Penner family for making this beautiful facility possible.”
Tags
Athletics Campus Development Campus Life
Student Life
Student-led benefit concert celebrates Providence, raises $20,000 for local nonprofits
March 10, 2026
Organized by Brown University students, the “Thank You PVD” concert brought performers, students and Providence residents together for a night of music, gratitude and collective healing.
Open details for Student-led benefit concert celebrates Providence, raises $20,000 for local nonprofits
Student Life
A throwback menu for a timeless institution: Celebrating 75 years of the ‘Ratty’
February 6, 2026
A 75th anniversary dinner and 1950s-inspired menu marked a milestone for Brown’s largest dining hall, celebrating the generations of students who have enjoyed meals and community at Sharpe Refectory.
Open details for A throwback menu for a timeless institution: Celebrating 75 years of the ‘Ratty’
Student Life
Brown to elevate golf and squash teams to varsity status in 2026
January 23, 2026
Growth in team resources, coaching expertise, athletic facilities and fundraising opportunities have bolstered four teams that have secured national championships, top rankings and outstanding win/loss records at the club level.
Open details for Brown to elevate golf and squash teams to varsity status in 2026