Café or Lounge
Fitness facilities forming part of a larger centre
are not generally provided with a dedicated Cafe
or Lounge, this normally being provided as part
of the overall centre. In this case a seating area
with vending machines could be provided as part
of the fitness area.
Where the fitness facility is stand alone, a café
and/or lounge area should be provided and be
located close to the reception foyer.
The Café often forms the social hub of the
facility, as well as providing an area for
relaxation and refreshment before or after using
the facilities.
A kitchen and servery counter may be a
requirement depending upon the size of the
facility. Any catering facility provided, should be
determined to suit the number of users and the
proposed menu. Provision should be made for
vending machines if a Café is not provided, or
for times when the Café kitchen is closed.
The kitchen and servery environmental systems
will need to be adequately designed to prevent
the spread of cooking odours into other areas of
the building.
Advice from specialist catering equipment design
companies should be sought at an early stage of
the design, in order to ascertain space and
servicing requirements, including the route for
deliveries, bottles and removal of waste from the
refreshment area and storage on site prior to
collection. Wherever possible, servicing should
avoid the need to utilise public access routes.
The café should be located close to public toilet
facilities and its kitchen should be provided with
dedicated staff sanitary accommodation.
Customer Sales and Marketing Area
Operators often require a dedicated private
area away from reception to provide
promotional marketing and hospitality without
distracting staff operating the main reception
desk.
This should be a quiet area in the main foyer
area, or preferably be a separate room. New
customers may be given details on the centre,
prices, facilities and a tour.
Changing Rooms
Changing room capacities and sizes need to be
calculated to meet the likely normal maximum
occupancy level and patterns of use. The centre
operator may also hold historic data on typical
club usage which can be utilised. Each facility
will require an individual assessment of capacity
and layout, however as a guide the following
assumptions may be considered:
Fitness gym:
• Where the fitness area is relatively small, for
example, when part of a small centre one
changing space should be provided for each
item of equipment. For larger centres
changing spaces and lockers are provided at
a lower ratio as gym usage is individual and
users arrive and leave at different times.
• Provision should anticipate peak time usage
where possible, although this will inevitably
lead to underutilisation during other periods.
It is common for fitness gym users to arrive at
the facility already changed. It may therefore
be possible to discount the number of
changing spaces needed specifically for the
fitness gym by between 25 - 35% of the
number of workstations.
• However, factors such as the facility's
location, expected catchment area and brand
success can all impact upon the changing
room requirements, and the operator should
be consulted at an early stage of the design
to more accurately assess changing
provision.
• Allow for one shower for every six changing
spaces.
Studio changing requirements.
• In addition to fitness gym members, the
changing rooms will also need to be able to
cater for the demand of the participants of
studio classes, particularly at peak periods as
classes start and end. Capacities should