Seems like having a fitness center at your fingertips is very good for the real estate business. In a recent home report in The New York Times, housing trends show that multi-family residents across multiple generations are willing to trade-in unit square footage for added space in common areas, on-site workout facilities, and for pools.

Customized multi-family fitness centers must reflect the style and philosophy of the day in order to  attract today’s modern family members, and this may include spaces for socializing, lots of natural light or solar panels, and instant Wi-Fi connectivity.

Every fitness and wellness space is slightly different, of course, and so we always take into consideration different configurations – and work closely with our clients to deliver the optimal fitness experience. We design your space while partnering with your architects, interior designer and contractors to fully optimize your fitness amenities and breath-taking design elements.

Multi-family Fitness Center with bikes and strength equipment
Multi-family Fitness Center

 

Multi-Family Fitness Centers Require Light and Space

At Opti-Fit, our specialized software process may provide realistic renderings of your facility while bringing a strong sense of detail and accuracy to a multi-family wellness space.

As your potential tenants tour places to live, knowing their family will take advantage of the fitness center, here are several things to be on the lookout for when designing a new multi-family fitness center:

Whether renting or buying, today’s savvy multi-family residents are looking for amenities that go beyond the front lobby, shared common area and outside spaces. They want a fantastic fitness center and excellent equipment maintenance, too.

TRX straps outside withe matrix bikes
Matrix Cycling Bikes

Equip your modern multi-family fitness center with new fitness equipment, and pay nothing until 2018. Contact Opti-Fit at sales@opti-fit.com or call 888-601-4350

Although a great fitness center can help attract and retain residents, a number of multifamily property owners who have invested large sums to install fitness centers are frustrated to see them underutilized. One major development trend nationwide is an emphasis on building community, whether it be through communal spaces, on-site events or a multifunctional app with a communication platform. At the same time, group fitness classes like CrossFit, SoulCycle and yoga continue to grow their devoted bases. Savvy multifamily property managers have begun to realize that merging the two can fill their gyms. These are the top five things property managers can do to foster a sense of community.

1. Incorporate Networked Fitness Equipment

Networked fitness equipment leverages technology to integrate group classes, personal training, contests and more. Opti-Fit partners with Matrix, which has a platform with a social feed that allows members to collectively motivate and congratulate each other on meeting milestones. It can promote gym awareness, engagement and social connections. The platform can capture data from fitness trackers and smart equipment, or import fitness logs from other sites so individuals are spared manual data re-entry. Through the app, members can get guest passes, push notifications, and class and gym schedules.

2. Provide Equipment That Promotes Group Training

One of the surest ways to activate and mobilize a fitness center is to provide equipment that allows for group and class-based training, such as the customized TRX Studio Line, indoor group cycles and yoga mats. Property managers can schedule and tailor group workouts to have broad appeal and cater to all ages, interests and abilities. This can mean regularly offering beginner or introductory classes while varying the intensity, modality and targeted muscle groups of workouts. Keeping track of attendance and distributing surveys to residents can help programmers determine members’ favorite teachers and styles. Classes beamed to TVs with virtual instructors are becoming increasingly popular, especially where real trainers are in short supply. A subscription to online classes can be a cost-effective way to incorporate group fitness, though participants may not get the same level of individualized attention.

3. Employ A Wellness Director

Fitness directors are responsible for ascertaining residents’ workout preferences and designing a suitable schedule of classes. They can also help with gym upkeep and ensure it continues to meet residents’ needs. This director’s salary can be passed along to residents in the form of an incremental rent bump.

4. Offer On-Site Personal Training

Working with an on-site trainer is convenient for residents and great for beginners and people with injuries or other limitations. Trainers can help people lift with proper form, learn new exercises to do independently, create a weekly exercise regimen and, when appropriate, provide nutritional support.

5. Sponsor Contests For Residents

Healthy competition is one of the best ways to make fitness engaging and fun. Equipment like Expresso Bikes use mounted screens to offer an immersive experience, display a live leaderboard and give bikers access to a number of challenges. Wellness directors can host pushup, pull-up, plank or even hula-hoop competitions to spark people’s competitive drives. They can also simulate a “Walk Across America” race series with treadmills, or a leg-burning “climb the Empire State Building” with climbers. They can open the contest to an entire market to attract new tenants. They can also charge a nominal entry fee and donate the proceeds to a local charity.

Courtesy: Bisnow

 

Fitness centers are still a must-have in any community, according to the National Apartment Association. They are the most upgraded community-wide amenity since 2014, and J Turner Research found that 46% of tenants are willing to pay a premium for centers with classes. Installation costs can thus be conveyed to residents in the form of higher rents and quickly recouped.The inclusion of well-designed centers can foster tenant interaction and cohesion, making them a property manager’s weapon of choice in today’s amenity wars. The fitness center has transformed dramatically over the decades, and an obsolete space can be a serious detriment to an apartment complex’s appeal. The fitness solution specialists at Opti-Fit shared what they perceive to be the four hallmarks of truly exceptional spaces.

1. Conscientiously designed


Conscientious professional design has become paramount as exercisers’ preferred workout modalities grow increasingly diverse and exotic. Multifamily gym footprints are often compressed to accommodate other amenities, so maximizing versatility and usability is key.

Pros accomplish this with multi-functional, movable equipment tailored to the gym’s layout. Opti-Fit’s approach emphasizes providing for all ages and experience levels to democratize the space and maintain ADA compliance.

Opti-Fit’s team partners with architects, interior designers and contractors for comprehensively delivered spaces. It uses 3D technology to ensure results meet expectations, and its renderings can be used in marketing materials and investor presentations.

2. Reflective of trends

Adapting the fitness center to various workout types has historically entailed designating certain areas for cardio, stretching and weight training, but now necessitates adding yoga, cycling and functional training areas.

Segregating these activities can prevent injuries caused by exerciser free-for-all, and imbue novice exercisers with a greater degree of confidence and comfort. Circuit trainers should be able to make their way through the gym predictably.

3. Customized and branded

The importance of branding visibility cannot be overstated. By using easily recognized, top-of-the-line equipment, multifamily groups can differentiate themselves from competing apartments. Opti-Fit favors Matrix, Star Trac, Nautilus, Stairmaster, Schwinn and TRX.

Similarly, property managers proud of their gyms can plaster their own logo and colors around the space, drawing attention to the people maintaining and providing the gym. This can promote retention and loyalty.

4. Full of light, ambiance and outdoor space

Fitness centers should not be utilitarian, windowless, fluorescently lit and predominantly concrete. Many exercisers want a more lifestyle-oriented, relaxing atmosphere that motivates and makes exercise a pleasure rather than a chore.

Incorporating outdoor space (if climate permits) and natural light by taking advantage of sweeping views on a top floor can help accomplish this.

Opti-Fit stresses and commits to the upkeep of fitness centers, and manages them with routine maintenance, safety checks, equipment forecasting and asset replenishment recommendations.

Courtesy: Bisnow