January 2016 — Property Management Quarterly —
Page 25
N
o doubt you’ve put serious
consideration into the ameni-
ties and common areas of your
property, but as you cross your
T’s and dot your I’s, have you
thought through why so many busi-
nesses and young professionals have
moved to our great state of Colorado?
There are many obvious reasons, but
you might hear your tenants mention
the dream of incorporating the healthy
and active lifestyle that is part of the
Colorado identity.
According to the CDC’s State Indica-
tor Report on Physical Activity, Colorado
ranks within the top 10 most physically
active states and is one of the leading
states with the lowest obesity rates in
the nation.This theme of health and
wellness is an integral component, and
high priority, in the search for work-
space. Have you taken this theme into
account when designing the spaces
within your properties? It’s important
for your spaces to accommodate and
welcome the healthy Colorado lifestyle.
Let’s take a look at just one component
of health and wellness: physical activ-
ity.
Physical activity does not have to,
and often cannot, take place at the
local gym or bike path close to home.
Physical activity occurs not only in our
workplace fitness centers but also at
our workstations.With the advent of
adjustable or standing desks and tread-
mill desks, the need for movement
takes place right beneath our noses.
There are numerous studies show-
ing the correlation between physical
activity and increased productivity,
and your tenants likely already know
this. According to Jack Groppel, Ph.D.,
co-founder of the Human Performance
Institute, short bursts of movement
throughout the day
not only increases
happiness and pro-
ductivity, but also
improve a com-
pany’s bottom line.
Your tenants will be
looking for certain
design elements
within a workplace
that encourage
healthy and active
behaviors, most
commonly a fitness
center.
Let’s take a look
at some of those
specific ingredients and how they differ
from a traditional gym.
Equipment.
Consider how close the
nearest gym is and what are it offers.
There is no need to compete with that
gym because your space fills a very dif-
ferent need. Given the time restraints
of most professionals and the need
for quick, short bursts of activity, this
space does not need to be overcrowded
with equipment and fulfill every fitness
trend.
By providing a few of the traditional
and most commonly used pieces of
equipment, like treadmills, ellipticals
and bikes, connecting that equipment
to the Internet (if budget allows) and
offering basic functional training equip-
ment, you will make your space more
inviting and accessible than the gym
down the street.
Layout, sightlines and ambience.
In this
space, the importance of the room’s
layout, sight lines and ambience is
equally critical to the equipment cho-
sen.Taking advantage of natural light,
considering personal space and flow of
movement, and choosing appropriate
flooring and mirroring are just a few
of the factors that can enhance and
encourage use of the space.
Demographics.
If your office build-
ing attracts millennials, you will want
to consider technology-forward fit-
ness equipment that easily syncs with
personal devices and commonly used
apps. Other tenant demographics,
like gender and line of work, will help
determine specifications of the equip-
ment and layout of the space. Depend-
ing on the distance and time it takes
your tenants to commute, you may
need to provide bike racks, as well as
adequate showers and lockers within
your fitness center.
To assist in making these decisions,
work with a reputable commercial
fitness consultant with this type of
expertise rather than trying to piece
your project together with multiple
vendors or doing it yourself.Whether
the space is planned in a new con-
struction or is part of a renovation
project, bring the consultant into the
process early to avoid costly mistakes,
such as misplaced electrical and poor
flooring choices.
When selecting a consultant to help
with the project, it is important to ask
lots of questions. For example, ask why
particular equipment is recommended
over others, and if it makes sense
to lease versus purchase the equip-
ment.Take tours of previous projects
and ask to speak to others property
managers they have worked with. Ask
about warranties, service, preventative
maintenance and fitness programming
options.You should be looking to create
a partnership.
This process can take some time.
If you feel as though you’re speaking
with a sales representative versus a
potential long-term partner and advis-
er, then shop around. It should take
multiple conversations to create the
most functional layout, to determine
the best equipment mix and build a
trusting relationship that can be carried
into future projects.
s
Integrating wellness into your workspace
Vendor Trends
Laura Emrich
Commercial
fitness consultant,
Advanced Exercise
Equipment,
Littleton
Photo courtesy Life Fitness
Given the time restraints of most professionals and the need for quick, short bursts of
activity, office gyms do not need to be overcrowded with equipment and fulfill every
fitness trend.
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