Project Victoria
Project Victoria
The brief
Site 1
Year of completion:
2016
Project value:
£1.7m
Project duration:
12 weeks
Site 2
Year of completion:
2017
Project value:
£2.5m
Project duration:
16 weeks
Convert a split-site consisting of a basement warehouse and car park into a multi-purpose gym
The founders of Gymbox set out to disrupt and reset the industry standard in the early 2000s by aiming to create a series of urban gyms sited in unusual spaces and by offering a more stimulating, club-inspired environment.
Their site of choice is large multi-storey basement car parks in central locations, that offer expansive, textural spaces. Their design aesthetic, influenced by Manchester's Hacienda club style, incorporates materials, graphics, lighting and sound to create a bespoke environment that keeps their brand mantra of "the antidote to boring gyms" alive.
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The DDI team worked with the Gymbox founders and design team on constructing their first gym in Holborn in 2003 and continues as a trusted partner to deliver clubs for the Gymbox brand as it extends its portfolio across the UK.
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Gymbox Victoria was originally formed in 2016 and has since been expanded to three times its previous size and now spills over two basement levels - or 26,000 square feet - accessed from a discreet ground floor entrance.
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The Victoria warehouse site offered great potential to exploit the inherited building fabric and provided a great textural backdrop to the new, technical gym machines.
From the development of the concept design through to the co-ordinated technical solutions for construction, our detail & build team worked with Gymbox's lead architect & designers to develop a buildable scheme that enhanced the unique attributes of the site and embodies the Gymbox DNA.
Scope of works
Spanning two sites and a combined area of 26,000 square feet, the new underground space is a hybrid gym meets nightclub, with DJ's playing every night.
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Works included the installation of a cutting-edge audio, visual and lighting infrastructure to create a visually cool, industrial and energetic environment to enhance the members experience of the club and distinguish the training zones and multi-use studio spaces.
In addition to structural, mechanical, electrical and plumbing, a critical consideration was acoustic and vibration control to combat noise breakout and vibration to the offices above and surrounding neighbours.
Project insight
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Site access was heavily restricted., with no external areas around the site for any storage of materials or plant during construction, and a very small loading bay. Neighbouring roads were on a red route. In addition, tight noise restrictions in force to minimise disruption to adjacent offices and shops.
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Detailed collaborative programme planning, involving every trade and professional was essential to securing coordination and scheduling efficiencies between subcontractors. We also implemented just-in-time deliveries, tightly controlled at 48 hours notice, to minimise site congestion. Drilling and noisy works were limited to 3 hours per day to minimise neighbour disruption.
A key design feature of the space is the exposed services, set against the exposed brickwork of the warehouse and concrete structure of the former basement car park.
