PE Fitness

When Schoolcraft College evaluated new ways to bring value to their institution they focused on their old auxiliary gym. They knew a high-tech fitness center would add to their academic health & wellness curriculum plus they wanted to create a venue that would attract a diverse audience: faculty, students, and the community at large. It was also important that the building be environmentally friendly.

The IDS team worked closely with the College’s Facilities and Technology departments to design and build, in four short months, a vibrant state-of-the art facility that serves all—young and old. The 11,855-square-foot renovation was completed in January 2012 and includes a day-lighting control system, “smart” benches and a yellow brick road!

The Schoolcraft College Fitness Center is a project of contrasts. Exercise equipment today is technologically advanced, demanding more software, cabling and connections, while creating a sustainable environment demanding less energy consumption.

The Fitness Center caters to college students and athletes, yet at any given time, seniors may be working-out in the same space. An important goal of the design team was to provide natural light in a previously windowless space, but adding more windows would naturally drive up energy use.

The College saw their Fitness Center as a prime opportunity to offer something different than the neighboring big-name gyms. Focused on that goal, the IDS team used directional design as a way to accommodate the simultaneous activity in the Fitness Center and also to make the space aesthetically pleasing. The entrance to the gym begins with a colorful path that directs traffic and activity. The ceiling starts at eight feet and then rises to 25 feet with unique lighting clusters and ceiling fans that form distinct activity areas. At any given time, school athletes may be training in one area while active Continuing Education classes share nearby space without disruption to each other.