9 minute read
Design + Renovation
Exercising an
SUMMING IT UP
> Younger families are necessitati ng the need for larger fi tness accommodati ons. > Design choices such as fl ooring style are dictated by ease of maintenance and durability. > Ameniti es that include pro shops, snack faciliti es, restrooms and locker rooms help extend a club’s overall fi tness package.
an Expansion
Clubs get a leg up on fitness by updating gyms and creating classrooms.
By Pamela Brill, Contributing Editor
REVAMPING A WORKOUT space? It’s no sweat for clubs that know how to maximize their faciliti es with top-notch equipment and plenty of room for individual and group classes. As more members extend their visits beyond the golf course, clubs are meeti ng the demand for fi tness resources and additi onal ameniti es.
ENERGIZING ITS MEMBERSHIP
Five years ago, Shannopin Country Club in Pitt sburgh, Pa., voted to enhance its fi tness faciliti es in response to a demographic shift . “The board at the ti me felt like the club needed a boost of energy and fi tness was the trend that was att racti ng a younger, more family-focused membership,” says General Manager Mike Meissner. But when the original plan was derailed by a series of delays, the project was put on the back burner. Once the constructi on crew fi nally broke ground in February 2021, the project took off and the new gym opened to wide acclaim this past April.
Spanning 3,000 sq. ft ., the two-level fi tness center is made up of 75 percent strength equipment and 25 percent cardio. Three ellipti cals, three treadmills and two recumbent bikes are positi oned in the cardio area, along with an existi ng rower. A Matrix 5-stack multi -stati on is positi oned with a two-bay rig for free weights, TRX cable and pull-ups.
SHANNOPIN COUNTRY CLUB
Pittsburgh, Pa. “The board at the time felt like the club needed a boost of energy and fitness was the trend that was attracting a younger, more family-focused membership.”
— Mike Meissner, General Manager
Meissner also points out the versatility of a wall-to-wall, six-foot strip of Astroturf designed for the gym’s push sled, floor exercises and stretching. “There’s enough room to move around so that no one ever feels crowded,” he notes.
Choosing a trusted supplier experienced in modern gym design was essential to Shannopin’s set-up. The club called upon Webster Fitness, which had recently worked with Lancaster Country Club on its fitness center update.
“We felt great about the quality of pieces they were supplying us and [they were] very accommodating,” explains Meissner. With safety being a paramount concern, designers chose rubber flooring throughout for its durability.
Shannopin’s fitness facility is also outfitted with energyefficient LED lighting and Wi-Fi connectivity, including two additional access points on each floor for expanded coverage. Five televisions and Comcast music service are part of the gym’s entertainment package, while security is managed by three cameras: one at the entrance and two inside the gym. To continue maintaining a clean environment, particularly as Covid concerns ebb and flow, Shannopin’s board opted to bring in an outside cleaning company four days a week. “This allows housekeeping to focus on their everyday tasks in the clubhouse, just as they have had through the pandemic,” says Meissner.
Having completed a portion of the fitness project’s next development phase—two pickleball courts and two tennis courts opened this past June, and four paddle tennis courts will be ready in time for paddle season—the club is gearing up for construction on the ground floor. A lounge area for racquet players, a flex space and golf simulator will round out the space, along with restrooms and locker rooms on both floors. And to further satiate fitness goers, a wall-towall buffet with food service storage and a wet bar with kegerator is also on tap.
The two-level fitness center at Shannopin Country Club is comprised for 75 percent strength equipment and 25 percent cardio.
Ridgewood Country Club, Paramus NJ
DESIGN AND ARCHITECTURE FOR PRIVATE CLUBS & HOSPITALITY
TRIPLE THREAT
Nearly three times the size of its original footprint, the fitness center at Baton Rouge (La.) Country Club is satisfying members’ need for group classes, personalized workouts and other wellness amenities. According to General Manager Michael Masson, CCM, the existing 6,000-sq.-ft. fitness center, which opened in 2000, “was instrumental in making fitness an extremely important component of our club experience.” To provide more space and improved accommodations, the club constructed a 17,155 sq.-ft. facility and opened its doors this past February.
In the two-story center, the top floor is dedicated entirely to fitness, as seen by a full cardio/strength area, stretch space, private consult room and four group exercise rooms. A comprehensive equipment roster includes Precor cardio with P82 10” integrated touch-screen consoles, Precor Resole Strength equipment, Freemotion Dual Cable Cross and custom dumbbells and barbells. The gym also houses a Reformer Studio, containing five Allegro reformers with Towers of Power, sitting boxes, jump boards and a Combo Chair. Double-layered Mondo Sport Impact flooring in the main workout area is designed to withstand heavy weights and foot traffic.
While cardio and strength exercise reign supreme in this area of the fitness center, the club addressed the need for group workouts and classes with extra studio space. “This gives us the availability to offer more classes at the same time,” notes Masson.
A Reformer Pilates studio and a Mind and Body studio (for yoga, mat Pilates, barre and Zumba) are designed with vinyl flooring for easy maintenance. A separate athletic training
BATON ROUGE COUNTRY CLUB
Baton Rouge, La.
— Michael Masson, CCM, General Manager
CHERRY VALLEY COUNTRY CLUB
Skillman, N.J.
— Douglas Lesko, General Manager
studio has a full TRX system, parti ti on for sub dividing and turf fl ooring, chosen for its ability to withstand highimpact exercises.
Once on the fi tness center’s fi rst fl oor, the hard-core gym persona shift s to a more resort-like atmosphere. Here, visitors can partake of locker rooms, a pro shop, childcare faciliti es, a teen space and café, stocked with grab-and-go salads, sandwiches and snacks. An outdoor pati o, along with an upstairs wraparound veranda, off er convenient spots for post-workout socializing. Background music is piped throughout the outdoors, as well as in the fi tness center via Bluetooth.
Thanks to a fl oor plan with ample space between equipment zones, individual studios for group classes and a wealth of supplemental ameniti es, Baton Rouge Country Club has reaffi rmed its commitment to member fi tness.
THE EVOLUTION OF FITNESS
The relocati on of Cherry Valley Country Club’s fi tness center—from an upstairs setti ng to a reconfi gured lowerlevel layout—has revitalized an acti ve membership in search of more ti me at the gym.
“We noti ced an increased demand for fi tness and wellness programs that our current space did not allow,” says General Manager Douglas Lesko of the Skillman, N.J.-based facility. Last December, the club cut the ribbon on its renovated fi tness faciliti es with more than 300 members in att endance.
Dubbed EVOLUTION at Hobler House, the lower-level fi tness center assumes the space once occupied by an outdated dining and event area. Updati ng required a full gut renovati on, including the removal of existi ng walls to create a fl oor plan that encompasses gym operati ons and complementary services. Upon entrance, members walk into a spacious lobby that contains retail outlets, meeti ng space and a grab-and-go snack and beverage stati on.
“We wanted this area to be a place where members can meet or get work done, so we incorporated workstati ons and furniture into the design,” Lesko adds.
Cherry Valley’s main gym area is comprised of assorted cardio and strength equipment. Treadmills, ellipti cals, bikes and stair climbers are all outf itt ed with satellite TV and additi onal connecti vity. Positi oned alongside this workout gear are strength and resistance training machines, free weights and a turf strip for CrossFit training.
“Realizing the importance of group exercise, we devoted
The fitness center at Cherry Valley Country Club—dubbed EVOLUTION at Hobler House— features a spacious lobby with retail outlets, meeting space and a grab-and-go snack and beverage station.
a large porti on of the gym to a classroom,” notes Lesko. The space is also set up with an on-demand system that lets members take virtual classes on their own schedule. Members can also improve their golf game using a TRX machine, kinesis machine, kett lebells and medicine balls.
Creati ng a safe environment for gym goers necessitated specifi c design choices. “When choosing materials, we wanted a modern feel, but to also make sure the materials matched their purpose,” explains Lesko.
In the cardio and group fi tness areas, soft fl ooring was selected for its ease on joints, while in the golf performance and free weight areas, durable fl ooring was key for weights inadvertently dropped on the fl oor. LED lighti ng on everything from the front desk to the ceiling and mirrors is controlled via smartphone for ease of use.
With ample space for equipment, the club has been able to expand its roster of classes, both complementary and feebased. As a result, management has been able to bring additi onal trainers and a golf functi on specialist into the facility, providing greater resources for its acti ve membership. C+RB
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