Redesigning A Gym
For class, we were asked to observe a public location, observe the interactions within that location, pin point some problems with the design, and create some solutions to make the design better for its intended purposes. One public location that I find really interesting is a fitness center. It’s funny how modern society is used to this form of exercise. It’s fairly stale, boring, and monotonous. Traditionally, we exercised to hunt and gather our food, tend to shelters, and explore new spaces. Today, we sit at a desk all day and to avoid losing all of our muscle mass- we go to the gym. We plug in our headphones. We lift weights. We look in the mirror- “ok, you haven’t totally lost it”.
It’s an integral piece of our health. Without it, not only is our physical health hindered, our mental, emotional, and even spiritual health are left practically unexercised themselves. Given that a gym’s main purpose is to provide a space and a set of tools for users to advantageously physically exert themselves to make them healthy, during these observations I was continually asking myself- “how can this space make users more healthy?”.
The gym is painted in gray monotones, has a few tv’s, doesn’t do much to “motivate” a gym-goer. Though, one integral aspect of this gym is the square footage. It’s really big. There’s an expansive main section that has the cardio and weights, apart from this there is a spacious “green room” which is essentially a cross-fit room, a spin bike room, yoga room, rock wall, barre room, stretching area, kids section, welcoming/check-in area, men’s and women’s locker rooms complete with private showers, toilets, dry saunas, and a steam room. I was really surprised when I first saw it all. It’s my impression that it was a church before it was a gym, and so I think that may be why it seems so large of a space. Though the access to a multitude of different forms of exercise was exciting and really cool. This is where I found the issue I wanted to try and redesign.
Its easy to notice that these spaces catering to alternate forms of exercise seldom see visitors. To me, these alternate forms of exercise are a great differentiator and attractive aspect for gym-goers. Weights and treadmills can only entertain for so long. Mixing up exercise with alternate ways of breaking a sweat is not only more fun, but it brings people together, develops different skills and introduces people to different ways of staying in shape. It seemed that only when a class was happening these spaces were used. Of all the times that I visited, Thursday between 4–6, Friday between 12–2, and Sunday between 3–5, there were no classes happening. These unused spaces rarely see visitors using the equipment that they offer when classes were not going on. This seemed like a huge waste of space and a short falling of the gym’s potential.
One critical step the gym needs to take is ensuring the equipment is ready and easy to use. For example, the rock wall is essentially just sitting there. There are no harnesses or ropes, and the grips are loose. To redesign this area, I would make it a strictly bouldering wall. It would make a small bouldering wall, but it would provide a way for climbers to actually use it. With bouldering, there are no harnesses or ropes needed. Which means upkeep is simple- all the gym needs to do is occasionally change the routes and re-secure the holds. Even just the ability for the gym to say it has a “bouldering wall” is a huge bonus, as well it compliments the space with a working alternate form of exercise that is more engaging than typical weightlifting.
The next redesign idea surrounds the ways people interact with the different spaces that typically go unused apart from classes. Aside from a deep cleaning of the spaces, how can the gym bring users into these spaces that engage in alternate forms of exercise?
I came up with the idea of an app that hosts a library of pre-recorded workouts which guide members through sessions. For example, let’s Sarah is a new member. She joined the gym because she really liked how the gym offered different types of spaces and equipment that created alternate forms of exercise. She hates traditional cardio and would rather skip the weights section. She was introduced to spin biking with her friend last month and really enjoyed it, though this gym doesn’t hold classes when she can make them- she’s a nurse and her schedule is unique. Sarah downloads the gym app that carries pre-recorded spin classes- workout playlist is included- and she is able to successfully complete a difficult spin class on her own time in that designated space. Sarah was not alone though, a few other members came into the room and completed other pre-recorded spin classes all in their own time through their smartphones.
This strategy can be easily modeled throughout the other spaces(pre-recorded yoga sessions, a cross fit workout, a barre instruction). It’s easy, convenient, can be adapted across multiple types of exercise and utilizes the rooms that the gym has. As well, it could entice members to come to physical classes when they can make it. These recorded workouts provide a way for the members to familiarize themselves with the gym trainers and could provide the trainers with useful feedback on how to create and perfect their classes.
Overall, the gym has the basics plus a lot more. If utilized correctly the alternate spaces that the gym has could put them miles ahead of traditional gyms. If they tapped into the potential of these spaces that cater to alternate forms of exercise while designing an app to compliment them, the gym could provide a space that brings people together, creates a menu of different ways to exercise, engages with its members in holistic ways, and ultimately sets them apart from other gyms.
