Physical Fitness (Exercise Room)

by WBDG Staff

Last updated: 05-25-2007

Overview

The Physical Fitness (Exercise Room) space type is a space specifically designated for exercise, fitness training, and physical wellness activities. Also included are toilets, office, and general storage normally found in a Physical Fitness (Exercise Room) space to meet codes and regulations.

Fitness space types do not include: high bay court games (basketball, racquetball), saunas, hot tubs, steam rooms, swimming pools, food preparation, and service or sporting goods retail.

Space Attributes

The Physical Fitness (Exercise Room) space types provide a comprehensive, varied program of physical activities to meet the individual training regimens of its occupants. Indoor fitness programs can typically be divided into four categories of exercise: warm-up/cool down, free weight, circuit training, and cardiovascular. Each area that houses a particular exercise category should be designed around the requirements of the necessary equipment, including spatial, utility, and HVAC requirements, as well as circulation and control. Also important to the design of this space type is the durability of finishes, flexibility of space, and acoustical control. Typical features of physical fitness space types include the list of applicable design objectives elements as outlined below. For a complete list and definitions of the design objectives within the context of whole building design, click on the titles below.

Functional / Operational

• Spatial Requirements of Equipment and Exercise Activities: A minimum 12' ceiling height is generally required in this space type to accommodate the clearances needed for daily equipment usage. Special surfaces are also required for many athletic activities such as cushioned training surfaces, mirror walls, or impact-resistant walls. Anticipate circulation, in particular controlled circulation, using a flow diagram at the beginning of the design process.
• Durability of Structure and Finishes: Increased structural steel is typically provided to reduce vibration transmission. Exercise and weight rooms, including equipment storage rooms, should be designed for a 150 LB/SF live load. Finishes should be durable and easy to maintain in anticipation of maximum use. See also WBDG—Wall Systems.
• Acoustical Control: Reduce noise impact generated by physical activity, by including sound baffles at all acoustically rated partitions, in particular exercise and weight rooms and tenant demising partitions.
• Occupancy: Occupancy Group Classification is Business Occupancy B, with sprinklered protected construction and GSA Acoustical Class X space where noisy operations are located.

Sustainable

• Special HVAC: Employ measures to reduce moisture and odor migration to other spaces—assume this space type requires a 20% increase in cooling capacity above the overall building shell and core. Provide a separate AHU for exercise areas. Fitness centers will typically have negative air pressure relative to other areas of the building.

Example Program

The following building program is representative of the Physical Fitness space type.

PHYSICAL FITNESS

Example Plans

The following diagram is representative of typical tenant plans.

Example Construction Criteria

For GSA, the unit costs for physical fitness space types are based on the construction quality and design features in the following table (PDF 54 KB, 5 pgs). This information is based on GSA's benchmark interpretation and could be different for other owners.

Relevant Codes and Standards

The following agencies and organizations have developed codes and standards affecting the design of physical fitness spaces types. Note that the codes and standards are minimum requirements. Architects, engineers, and consultants should consider exceeding the applicable requirements whenever possible:

• P-100, Facilities Standards for the Public Buildings Service, GSA
• Fitness Center Design Guide, Air Force
• International Building Code
• UFC 4-740-02 Fitness Centers

Major Resources

WBDG

Building Types

Health Care Facilities, Office Building, Research Facilities

Design Objectives

Accessible—Plan for Flexibility: Be Proactive, Functional / Operational—Account for Functional Needs, Productive—Promote Health and Well-Being, Safe / Secure—Ensure Occupant Safety and Health, Sustainable—Enhance Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ)

Publications

• Architectural Graphic Standards, 10th Edition by Charles Ramsey, Harold Sleeper, and John Hoke. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2000.