Raising the Bar
The design and fit-out of the new Les Mills gym in Christchurch has set a new benchmark for sustainability as well as the standard of facilities on offer
It is commonly said that practice makes perfect, and it is certainly true of gym workouts. But it is also true of gyms each new facility improves on what went before, thanks to new technology and accumulated knowledge and experience.
When it came to the design and construction of the new Les Mills gym in Cashel St, Christchurch, The Building Intelligence Group used knowledge gained from the construction of similar Les Mills gyms in Lower Hutt and Auckland.
Project manager Melanie Briasco says the company's experience with earlier Les Mills projects meant it was familiar with the operational and functional requirements of the gym.
"Every project The Building Intelligence Group works on begins with a vision," she says. "For Les Mills, the vision is for each new gym to be the best the company has ever opened. Our role was to manage the full redevelopment project. This included not only the design and construction of the new premises, but also the site selection and the design and construction of the temporary premises used during construction."
The Building Intelligence Group also managed the relocation of the gym to the temporary premises, and the demolition of the old Les Mills building.
"For the new gym, we were able to use our earlier experience with Les Mills, and work with the designers to find even better ways to provide these facilities in a stimulating, user-friendly environment," says Briasco. "Devoting time and energy to every detail was essential. It was important to incorporate new and innovative materials, and design features that would be visually dynamic, yet also able to cope with the demands of a busy facility."
Because Les Mills wanted the building to be as environmentally friendly as possible, more than 95% of the demolition materials were recycled. In addition, numerous ESD features were utilised, including solar heating, high-efficiency heat pumps and heat exchangers, which use energy from waste water from the showers to preheat the cold water entering the water heating system.
For more details, contact The Building Intelligence Group, Wellington, phone (04) 499 0881 or Auckland, phone (09) 300 9980, or visit the company's website: www.thebuildingintelligencegroup.co.nz.
Story by: Trendsideas
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