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May 2015 — Property Management Quarterly — Page 27
Vendor Relations
P eople in Colorado like to exer-
cise. Across all age ranges,
Coloradoans consistently
rank high in the nation for
physical activity. According to
the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention’s 2014 report on physical
activity, 61.8 percent of adults in the
state met the recommended 2.5-hour
weekly exercise guidelines, which
puts us firmly in
the No. 1 spot.
Seniors in Colorado
like to stay active
too. America’s
Health Rankings
lists the state as
third best, less than
a percentage point
behind Oregon and
California.
It is clear that
in Colorado exer-
cise amenities
are important to
employees, guests
and customers.
To keep custom-
ers happy, smart property managers
are designing and renovating quality
workout environments as a key part
of their corporate, hospitality, hous-
ing and apartment facilities.
Workout and fitness environments
ideally are designed to accommodate
the needs of the guest or workforce.
You must know who your users are
and what kind of workout they are
looking for – cardio, weights, classes
or all of the above. The important
balance and blend of strength and
cardiovascular equipment should
be paired with the right accessories,
such as floor matting and specific
training needs. Quality equipment
must be durable, quiet and smooth
in function, provide motivating and
informative feedback, and be visually
pleasing as well as maintenance free.
The local club or community fit-
ness center is a great fitness and
exercise option, yet, with today’s life-
styles and time constraints, the all-
inclusive, in-house facility is a viable
option and consideration for custom-
ers and workforce alike.
To develop the most inviting, bal-
anced, comfortable and functional
environment for your workout facil-
ity, there are a number of things an
innovative company should consider.
Room dimensions. Before purchas-
ing any equipment, you need to
know your space. Start by measur-
ing the dimensions (length, width
and height) of the area where the
equipment will be used. Make sure
to determine the “active area” of the
piece of equipment, not just the actu-
al size, so that someone will have
room to use the equipment freely
within the space you have desig-
nated. There has to be enough room
for a user to comfortably and safely
get on and off the machine and move
between equipment and other users.
With today’s fitness technology,
there are many quality strength and
cardiovascular exercise equipment
options to consider as well as fold-
up or stand-up versions that are
designed to accommodate the limit-
ed-space facility. If space is an issue,
there are plenty of multitasking
equipment options that may help.
The best place to start is to create a
computerized floor plan to pinpoint
the specific features of the area or
room and then plan for the specific
pieces of equipment and workout
areas.
Power supply outlets. Some types of
cardiovascular exercise equipment
require power outlets. Some do not.
Be sure that you have enough outlets
and determine if any of the equip-
ment requires a dedicated circuit
when planning your workout area.
Room temperature and ventilation.
A comfortable temperature and low
humidity will make a fitness room
a much more enjoyable and inviting
place to exercise. Room temperature
and adequate air flow is critical. Exer-
cise equipment, as well as physical
activity, produce heat, therefore, the
temperature and air flow need to
be adjusted for maximum comfort.
Also, ceiling fans, portable fans and
window shades when direct sunlight
is present can help keep a room com-
fortable.
Lighting. Be sure to use adequate
lighting in your workout area. Win-
dows that allow for natural light and
outside viewing are ideal and can
enhance the workout experience.
Generally, the more hand-eye coor-
dination an activity demands, the
more illumination is required. Group
exercise areas should have flexible
lighting.
Floor coverings, aesthetics and com-
fort. It is important for the materials
used within the workout and activity
room to absorb sound. The multiuser
commercial floor coverings should
consist of durable, yet warm and
comfortable products. The overall
area needs to be warm and inviting
to keep users coming back. Many
commercial fitness and exercise facil-
ities have migrated from out-of-the-
way places to welcoming showcases
within the entrance of the business.
Motivation and diversion. Visual and
auditory stimulation can be motivat-
ing to many exercisers. Wall-mount-
ed TVs or individual screens within
the pieces of equipment are options.
In addition, individual iPod and iPad
docking stations often help keep the
exerciser motivated and energized.
The addition of plants, artwork or
photos also can go a long way to add
interest and motivation to the room.
Be sure to consider other uses and
activities that may complement your
client’s workout experience, includ-
ing stretching, TRX suspension train-
ing, small-group training areas, and
relaxation and treatment facilities.
Equipment maintenance and cleanli-
ness. Maintenance and cleanliness
of equipment is important to protect
the investment and maintain a high
level of safety. Today, strength and
cardiovascular equipment is much
less maintenance intensive than it
used to be, yet a quarterly or semi-
annual checkup by a qualified indi-
vidual or company is always recom-
mended. To keep equipment clean,
provide disinfecting wipes or spray
and encourage users to wipe down
machines between uses; assign daily
and weekly cleaning tasks to staff.
Funding and financing options. There
are numerous equipment and facility
upgrade financing options. The new
or established business usually will
have access to competitive leasing or
bank loan options. In addition, there
are commercial fitness equipment
dealers that will consider a trade-in
value on present equipment within
the facility.
A word on costs – while it is tempt-
ing to spend less money on lighter-
duty fitness machines, you will save
money in the long run by purchasing
higher-quality equipment with a lon-
ger lifespan and less down time due
to repairs. Take warranties into con-
sideration. A good warranty can lower
the cost of ownership. Good planning
also can save you money so that you
buy the right equipment for the space
and buy what users want and need.
These inclusions and enhance-
ments to a workout area can help an
organization’s perceived benefit value
and can be viewed as a significant
benefit to employees, guests and cli-
ents, as well as a great selling point.
Most importantly, the company and
facility will be viewed as a state-of
the-art business that is in tune with
today’s needs and requirements.
If you decide that your facility
would benefit from an upgraded or
new fitness center, where do you
begin? If this type of expertise is
outside of your company’s comfort
zone, there are resources to help you
avoid expensive, time-consuming
mistakes. Commercial fitness dealers
are a great place to start. These expe-
rienced specialists can help plan the
space and provide direction on the
best exercise equipment to suit your
needs as well as provide equipment
service, and maintenance and trade-
in programs. In addition to design
and sales, fitness center management
companies can provide on-site man-
agement, fitness programs and more.
If do-it-yourself is more your speed,
there are free online planning tools
like Matrix Fitness’ Room Planner
tool available at
com.s
John Coffey
Senior commercial
product specialist,
HealthStyles
Exercise
Equipment,
Broomfield
Photos courtesy Healthstyles Exercise Equipment
The important balance of strength and cardiovascular equipment should be paired with
the right accessories, such as floor matting and specific training needs.
Before purchasing any equipment, measure the dimensions of the area, making sure to
determine the “active area” of the piece of equipment, not just the actual size.
Be sure to use adequate lighting in your workout area. Generally, the more hand-eye
coordination an activity demands, the more illumination is required. Group exercise
areas should have flexible lighting.