A selection of well designed locker rooms:
JJB Southampton (bottom left), SeaWest in
Denmark (insert), Xcel in Elmbridge (below
right) and locker rooms at the East Midlands
International Pool in Corby (bottom )
WOMEN’S CHANGING ROOM WISH LIST
• 78 per cent want sport to reflect the customer-friendly experience of shopping
• 83 per cent want private changing cubicles (91 per cent among schoolgirls)
• 56 per cent want hairdryers (62 per cent of schoolgirls)
• 28 per cent want full length mirrors
• 23 per cent want free towels
• 20 per cent want music
• 25 per cent of schoolgirls want hair straighteners
THE SOLUTION
A full refurbishment might be beyond
the budget of many facilities, but there
are some simple things that can be done
which make a big difference. “Clean-
liness is really easy to rectify and the
lack of it is a big turn off, especially in
swimming pool changing rooms,” says
Tibballs. “It’s the simple and relatively
cheap things which can make women
feel like their needs have been taken room. The space must be functional, ro- after their workout or sports game to
into consideration. We’ve been too far bust and easy to maintain, because dirty use the social facilities, there needs to be
the other way for too long and we need or broken changing rooms may present the provision for people to shower, dry
to redress the balance.” concerns for health and safety, or just give their hair and make themselves present-
Many local authorities are now taking the wrong impression. “And they need to able. He gives his criteria list: “Showers
the matter seriously, including Gates- be aesthetically pleasing and easy to use.” with the right sized doors, hairdryers
head Borough Council, which is currently Just as changing rooms can be a bar- that work – with shelves and mirrors.
refurbishing a number of its changing rier to participation, good facilities can The stowage requirements need to be
rooms and, because the area has a large remove it. “If the locker rooms feel right, as many people now have huge
Jewish community who require privacy luxurious, users are more likely to think sports bags that need horizontal lockers
when they change, have briefed design- they are getting good value for money and ideally there needs to be space to
ers, LSA Projects, to create an area which and will want to come back,” says Sean store shoes separately. Colour selection
can be closed off at certain times. Smyth, commercial director for LSA Proj- of floors and tiles is important so that
Associate director of S&P architects, ects, which aims to create the luxury feel they don’t look dirty after one person
Mark Thomas, says the company is of a private health club in public leisure has walked on them. Bright lighting can
currently involved in a number of refur- facilities, with the use of a huge colour make people feel overly self conscious.”
bishment projects to upgrade changing range, woods and Corian. These findings send a clear message to
rooms. “We know operators and local John Gibbs, managing director of operators that sub-standard changing
authorities are taking this seriously both Craftsmen Quality Lockers, agrees that rooms will no longer be tolerated. The
because of customer expectation and many people are looking for a reason perception of a facility is often dictated-
also because of legislation relating to not to participate in sport, and chang- by the changing rooms and so to skimp
inclusive design,” he says. ing rooms can offer a prime excuse. He in this area is a false economy. ●
“There are a number of important cri- also makes the point that as leisure facili-
teria to create a well designed changing ties want to encourage people to stay Kath Hudson is a freelance journalist
Issue 1 2010 © cybertrek 2010 Read Sports Management online
sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital 61
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