Safety First
From concept to construction to function, minimizing member risks is essential
By Jean Suffin W Safety: Stone Creek’s strong suite
hen you think about the physical embodiment of a club, you’re likely to think about the bricks and mortar, glass and steel, furniture and exercise equipment, courts and pools—those are the things that come most easily, most immediately, to mind. But the one quality, the one attribute, that links all of them is that they must ensure the safety of members and staff.
That’s true whether the club in question is still just a series of blue- prints, or a structure rising from the ground, or an established fitness venue, or one that’s in the process of being renovated or expanded. In short, when it comes to clubs, it’s: Safety first! “Architecture and design are realistic disciplines that focus on the member experience, and safety is always the first and foremost consid- eration,” posits Tom Kulp, the CEO and chief motivational officer of the Universal Athletic Club (UAC), in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. A three-story, 90,000-square-foot facility, UAC is responsible for the safety of some 14,000 members.
The issue of safety is obviously a complex one, involving thousands of
individual considerations and countless decisions. Many of the relevant building requirements are specified by law. The ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act), the ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials), and the VGB (Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act) are some of the national standards that need to be adhered to, and each state and municipality has their own. The local building inspector’s office is a good source for code information, and, when the club undergoes a permit review, the town inspector can provide guidance.
Because clubs are such complex entities, it’s impossible to identify all of the details that have an impact on safety. But, by checking in with designers, consultants, club operators, and staff, it is possible to pinpoint major factors and areas of concern, which is what CBI has done. Most of their comments and suggestions deal with specific needs, but one recom- mendation seems to encompass them all. >
ihrsa.org | NOVEMBER 2011 | Club Business Internat ional 49
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