club
overhaul
IMPROVEMENTS AT THE CLUB
INNER
•
Refurbished male and female
changing rooms, plus new family
and group changing areas
•
A free weight area that is 30 per
SPACE
cent larger
•
Cardio zone now twice the size,
with the addition of a mezzanine
•
Two new group exercise studios
•
Purpose-built group cycling studio
Suzie Joyce reports on the self-funded £2.7m refurbishment that
•
New air conditioning systems
•
Additional audio-visual
was recently completed at London’s Central YMCA Club
C
entral YMCA Club, located programmable spaces,” says Central treatment rooms and a dedicated beauty
on Great Russell Street in the YMCA’s facilities manager Alun Wood. room were created, where members
heart of London’s West End, “An overcrowded cardio zone and a and non-members alike can enjoy a
is often fondly referred to as disproportionately small free weights range of therapies.
‘the tardis’ by members and staff alike studio made availability of machines a The project also involved the
for, like Doctor Who’s famous ship, the real problem, particularly at peak times, complete revamp of the male and female
deceptively small entrance leads into a while issues with layout restricted access changing areas. Previously cramped,
cavernous space. for members with disabilities.” dingy spaces were transformed, with
Built on several levels and with a chic opaque glass showers, modern
large, open central area, the building a new level tiling, illuminating lighting and vibrant red
was originally designed in the 1970s, The answers came through an innovative accents used to create a more pleasant
with expansive spaces for gymnastics, design that created more than 750sq m changing experience. Again, space had
basketball and drill hall activities. (8,073sq ft) of more effective, usable been a problem, so each changing room
Piecemeal improvements were space for all activities. was extended from 120sq m (1,292sq ft)
instigated over the years, as fi nances In the cardio zone, 150sq m (1,615sq to 250sq m (2,690sq ft). Plasma screen
permitted, but the club was struggling to ft) of new fl oor space was created TVs, plus hair straighteners in the ladies,
meet the increasingly diverse demands through the addition of a mezzanine, added the fi nishing touch.
of an ever-growing membership base. allowing a new range of Technogym With the club working to secure IFI
So, in April 2007, the club embarked on a Excite and Kinesis One to be installed, in accreditation, both changing rooms were
self-funded £2.7m refi t. Members’ views, addition to Precor treadmills. made accessible, with dedicated disabled
sought in the annual surveys of 2005 and Meanwhile, the club’s two squash changing and shower rooms, plus a lift
2006, were factored into the decisions courts were sacrifi ced to make way for to enable disabled users to reach the
that were made while sourcing solutions new facilities, as squash had declined in swimming pool. New family and group
to the club’s issues. popularity. Indeed, one of the courts change areas have also been added.
There was certainly no lack of space, was already being used as a makeshift Wood adds: “We’re also very aware
but much of it was poorly used or group cycling area, but this was far from of our environmental impact as an
empty. The challenge for architects ideal for such a popular class. The courts organisation, so the energy effi ciency
Pozzoni was to work out how best to were transformed to house two new of the building has been enhanced with
make use of the vast area and transform exercise studios on the upper level and the addition of sensor taps, push-button
the facility into a modern gym, capable a free weights area below. A new cycling showers, motion-sensor lighting, and
of meeting the fi tness needs of more studio has also been added, with 25 independent air conditioning with
than 6,000 members, while retaining the Keiser bikes plus funky colour-change temperature-sensitive controls to deliver
sense of space and ‘wow factor’ of the lighting and linked audio equipment comfortable internal environments.”
main sports hall area. installed by AB Audio Visual. As an integral component of Central
“We identifi ed a need for increased The club’s treatment area was also YMCA, the club also runs a signifi cant
capacity in our changing areas and in need of a facelift, so three new number of community programmes,
WHO WAS INVOLVED?
Architects/designers: Pozzoni
Main contractors: ISG
Contracts management:
Davis Langdon
Equipment suppliers:
•
Technogym (CV/resistance)
•
Keiser (studio bikes)
•
AB Audio Visual (AV systems)
Group cycling: A new Keiser-equipped facility (left) features colour-change lighting
and audio equipment – a far cry from classes in the old squash court (above)
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