Did you know, there are more than 7200 health and fitness clubs in the UK – with around half of these being gym-only venues? 1 That’s a lot of competition for customer loyalty.
Whether you’re a low-cost, mid-market, high-end or boutique gym provider, outrunning your competitors starts with a successful fit out. For that you need a good fit out contractor. Our clients often come to us with an idea and a budget. It’s up to us to make it happen. Here’s our guide to installing the perfect gym.
Step 1: Assess the suitability of the unit to be a gym.
If you’re converting a premises into a gym from scratch, there are many compliance guidelines which your build must adhere to. Before you purchase or sign a lease on a unit, it’s vital to assess whether the space is actually suitable to be a gym.
Structural loading capacity is always the biggest consideration. Gym equipment is heavy, and 20 people using a running machine at the same time creates a huge amount of force.
To help you avoid a costly mistake, make sure your fit out contractor is experienced in carrying out feasibility tests. This includes acoustic tests, structural loading tests, floor capacity tests, asbestos tests, and space tests.
We have decades of experience, having completed over 100 gym fit out projects. Our team have a solution for every environment. As long as the unit’s structural loading capacity is sound, we can execute your project.
Step 2: Don’t assume a refurb will be automatically compliant
If it’s a refurb project, you (hopefully) already know that your unit is structurally fit for purpose as a gym. However, there will likely still be compliance considerations that your fit out contractor will need to take into account. If you are planning on extending your space, or adding more machines, it will be necessary to check that your plans won’t affect your gym’s compliance with all relevant safety legislation.
Step 3: Know what your customers want
Do your research, what are customers looking for in your market? What trends look like they’re here to stay? What equipment do people want? Increasingly, many gym users are looking to customise their workouts – so don’t just think about static equipment. Weights, medicine balls, mats for floor exercises – and room to use them, all provide people with greater flexibility to create unique workout plans that suit their goals. A welcoming reception area, spacious changing rooms, zones for workout classes, or even a café can also boost the function of your gym, and foster a great community feel that keeps your customers coming back for more.
Step 4: Thoughtful design wins every time
Once you’ve secured a unit that fits your vision, you’re going to want to make the most of your space. For this, finding an architect or interior architect specialising in leisure design will give you the best results. We partner with trusted architects who have the expertise to plan and design spaces for all budgets.
There are a lot of considerations when it comes to designing a gym. As well as making your space look amazing, architects will have to think about the safe positioning of equipment, building control requirements (fire exits, sprinklers, smoke detectors etc.), flooring durability and lighting plans.
Whatever your budget, you’ll also want décor, equipment and fittings that reflect your positioning in the market space, and your gym’s branding and ethos. Customers don’t just go to the gym to exercise anymore; they want to feel part of a shared culture and experience.
Step 5: Don’t ruin a brilliant idea with shoddy fit and finish.
That says it all really. There’s no point creating the perfect design, only for a poor execution to leave the finished result looking subpar.
Getting the right tradespeople is vital. Your fit out contractor should have a network of exceptional tradespeople, who can deliver projects to the highest quality finish. Also remember that getting machines into the unit happens towards the end of a gym installation project – and it isn’t always easy. Make sure your contractor has a plan for installing equipment without damaging your build. Whether that’s winching equipment through a window, or taking it apart and reassembling in situ, your contractor should have done it all before, and be able to foresee the correct plan of action from the initial assessment.
Our golden rule: Work with a contracting company that has plenty of proven experience in gym fit out.
Whatever your concept, a great fit out contractor will be able to bring it to life. An excellent fit out contractor will do this on time and on budget.
Head to your contractor’s website. They should have case studies and testimonials from previous projects, like these ones, which demonstrate their expertise in the gym and fitness sector.
It’s vital to choose a company with plenty of experience in gym fit out, because installing a gym can be a complex process. Not only will an experienced contractor have all the knowledge to keep your project on schedule and on budget, but they can ensure your premises meets the required compliance guidelines in all areas, and at every stage of the process.
We can take any gym installation from concept to completion – and our turnkey service means that you start trading from the moment we hand over your keys.
So, for your next gym fit out project, make sure you choose the right contractor for the job – hopefully that will be Oakwhite!
If you would like to talk about planning, design, refurbishment and builds, we’d love to hear from you. We’re based in West Sussex, but we complete projects all over the UK. Contact us via email, or give us a call on 01403 586062 for a no obligations chat with a member of our team.
1 Statistica research https://www.statista.com/statistics/308831/health-club-amount-in-european-countries/