The layout of your commercial gym has a greater effect on your business than you might realise.
A bad commercial gym layout will result in a bad customer experience, making it difficult for you to attract and retain members and make money. A good commercial gym layout, meanwhile, will elevate the training experience, helping you to attract and retain more members and maximise the profitability of your gym.
In some ways your gym equipment arrangement is like refereeing a big game: when the job is done well people won’t notice, but when it’s done badly it’s hard to ignore.
How do you ensure your fitness gym floor plan works for you and your customers? Read on to find out.
What is a good size for a commercial gym?
First, the space. There’s no single, simple number that represents a ‘good’ size for a commercial gym, because every gym is different.
If you run a boutique strength training gym filled with Force USA and Body-Solid equipment, you can get away with a far smaller footprint than if you run a large CrossFit franchise that has members completing shuttle runs and flipping tractor tyres across the floor.
How much space is enough for a gym? To answer that question you need to consider the type of training you’ll offer, the number of members you aim to attract, and the availability of appropriate properties in your area.
As gyms tend to feature open, expansive floor plans, they tend to be far easier to start in industrial zones and satellite suburbs than CBDs.
How do you lay out a commercial gym?
To design the perfect fitness gym layout, begin with a blueprint of your space, then follow these steps:
- Establish workout/non-workout areas: Mark out your main training space/s as well as change rooms, showers, bathrooms and reception/admin areas (where applicable).
- Create designated workout zones: Group your workout area into training-specific zones, to make the layout easier to navigate for members. Ensure you dedicate enough space for each type of training. For general commercial gyms, it’s critical that you cater to a range of fitness needs and preferences and provide a nice balance of equipment, as this expands your customer base.
- Determine gym equipment layout: Plan the equipment you’ll put within each zone, and where it will be placed, from Circle Fitness and Concept2 cardio equipment, to strength training equipment from Force USA and Body-Solid.
- Allow for traffic flow: It might be tempting to pack as much as you can into your gym equipment layout plan. But less is often more, as an open plan makes the space more welcoming and easier to move around, not to mention safer. Speaking of which...
- Integrate safety measures: The Australian Building Code outlines a number of rules and regulations for gyms, from fire resistance to noise concerns. Your gym needs to tick every applicable box.
- Make it beautiful: You want your gym to feel inviting. The good news is the bare bones industrial aesthetic can often pair perfectly with the mood of your gym and the tastes of your members, so you may not need to change the space much at all!
Commercial gym setup ideas and considerations
Successfully designing a commercial gym floor plan is about balancing a number of important factors and capitalising on opportunities. The following pieces of advice can help you do both.
- Consider electrical outlets: From touchscreens to sensors to software that records workouts, an ever-increasing array of fitness equipment requires electricity. Note all of the power outlets in your space and ensure all powered equipment has access to one.
- Capitalise on vertical space: Your floor plan should also be a wallplan, as the use of vertical space can increase the amount of equipment you offer customers and make your gym feel bigger. Think vertical versions of training equipment and wall racks for weights.
- Invest in high quality flooring: Gym floors tend to be treated quite harshly, so be sure to invest in quality. Flooring also helps you meet rules and regulations by reducing fire risk and absorbing noise.
- Keep safety and hygiene front of mind: Along with dedicated showers and change rooms, leave room for sanitation stations throughout your gym, to allow members to clean each piece of equipment after use.
How do you design a gym layout?
There are two ways to design a gym layout: DIY, or with the help of a professional like GymQuip. If you opt for the DIY option, be warned that there’s far more to gym design than the simplified steps above might suggest.
Rules and regulations must be applied to the letter, as non-compliance can lead to serious consequences. Balancing factors like equipment, traffic and safety is a tricky science. Ensuring your space is beautiful, comfortable and inviting is a skill all its own.
This is why the most successful businesses get professional help when designing their fitness gym layout. At GymQuip we’ve been helping commercial gyms maximise their space for decades. Over that time we’ve developed a simple and efficient process for designing the ideal layout for your space:
- Obtain floor plans: Send through your gym blueprints, which we’ll convert into a 3D model.
- Assess training styles: We ask you a series of questions that help us to get a sense of your gym, from the training you’ll offer to the personality of your brand.
- Plot equipment: We’ll develop a 3D rendering based on your answers during our research phase, creating a floor plan designed to maximise the user experience and the profitability of your gym.
- Provide the quote: We’ll present a quote complete with all necessary equipment. If you choose to move forward, you can leave your entire gym fit-out to us!
At GymQuip we’re your one-stop commercial gym shop, offering high quality equipment, maintenance services, and design and installation. We’re ready to help you build a gym that maximises revenue by attracting more customers and turning them into loyal members.
Visit our sprawling Canberra store, or let us come to you wherever you are in Australia. Get in touch with our friendly team today.