5 Important Questions to Ask Before Designing Your Fitness Center
When planning to design your own fitness center, there are several questions you need to ask yourself in order to help avoid potential problems you may encounter later on:
What Arrangement Provides the Best Traffic Flow?
The easiest way to keep the flow of traffic natural and efficient is to position the equipment into rows. This arrangement will provide convenient walk-ways for your guests to get to the equipment no matter where they are at in your fitness center. In addition, there needs to be enough space between all pieces of equipment so that customers can move around comfortably. If equipment is too close together, customers won’t be able to access equipment easily. If they are too far apart, you may run out of room to put all of the needed equipment.
How Many Outlets Do I Need & at What Voltage?
In all honesty, you cannot have too many outlets. The more outlets that you have, the more flexibility you will have rearranging your equipment later down the road. In the U.S., a standard outlet is about 120 volts, so remember to plan accordingly based on your power needs.
How Much Room Do I Need For Adding New Equipment Later On?
No matter how prepared you are in the beginning, eventually we all have to upgrade our fitness equipment. When adding new equipment in the future, remember that you will either be getting rid of old equipment or adding new pieces in with the old. Regardless of what you do, you’ll need plenty of space for possible expansions.
How Should I Pair Up My Equipment?
In order to provide organization to your fitness center, it would be smart to place the similar pieces of equipment next to each other. Placing similar pieces together will make it easier for customers to find what they are looking for. For example, cardio machines like treadmills, ellipticals, and stationary bikes should be paired together separately from weight lifting machines.
Where Can I Put a Dedicated Stretching Area?
Dedicating a specific area to stretching is a must, as stretching is very important. Stretching promotes flexibility and helps lower the chance of injury. If you are low on space, adding TRUE Stretch to your fitness center can provide a dedicated space for customers to stretch while taking up very little room.