clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

First Phase Of Re-Design For VIDA Fitness Now Complete

New, 3 comments

The first phase of VIDA Fitness' newest look is now open to the public. We mentioned them a few months ago when they posted a video rendering of the rooftop pool that feels like a nightclub, but we have to wait until August for that to open. For now the workout areas and renovated Bang Salon are available to the public. One unexpected design feature is that they used the heat generated by the air conditioning units to heat the pool and showers. Maybe next they'll transform all the energy generated by people on the treadmills to keep the lights on. The press release has all the details after the jump.

VIDA FITNESS OPENS ON U STREET

David von Storch’s Urban Adventures Companies Unveils First Phase

of Flagship Fitness and Lifestyle Complex

Washington, DC – Cutting-edge fitness, health and beauty is now in one location on U Street. Urban Adventures Companies, Inc. announced today that the highly anticipated VIDA Fitness-U Street opened its doors for business. After a four-month intensified renovation overhaul, Urban Adventures unveiled more than 40,000 square feet of fitness space with four levels devoted to cardio, strength, group and personal training making VIDA Fitness the company’s fourth location in Washington at 1612 U Street, NW.

Renovation of the entire 51,000-square-foot, $13 million fitness and lifestyle complex, which will deliver in phases over the next six months, also includes the recently opened and modernized Bang Salon. The new U Street address for VIDA Fitness is the largest, most fully-equipped location and is the company’s flagship site. The structure includes a 10,000-square-foot three-story modern, transparent glass extension that complements and preserves the historic architecture of the existing circa 1921 building. Heat generated from the air conditioning and heating systems help warm the water for showers and the rooftop pool. The U Street complex also features a 60-foot programmable illuminated interior color wall.

A massive atrium that extends through all the floors greets VIDA members upon entry. This 60-foot atrium wall is covered in white wave relief tile and washed with color- changing LED lighting. This slow wash of light illuminates the wall and becomes living art. In turn, each floor is then subtlety washed with the reflected light creating changes in the ambiance.

The four fitness levels are artfully divided into zones. VIDA’s second level is dedicated to cardiovascular exercise and includes state-of-the-art cardio machines with individual viewing screens. The new TRX studio is also housed on the second level with two endless pools located near the men and women’s locker rooms. The 2,100 square-foot third floor includes all strength training equipment with free weights and dumbbells by Hampton Fitness and the Group Fitness and Spinning Studios that feature Keiser Cycles. The Functional Training area, new to VIDA Fitness, and Personal Training Counter also resides on level three. The fourth level is devoted to flexibility training and accommodates the Inner Fitness Studio, Pilates Reformer and Gravity Studios.

A luxurious private rooftop club is slated to open in early August, which will include a 60-foot pool, resort cabanas, communal fire pit, sundeck and a membership lounge with full food and beverage service.

“We’ve made VIDA Fitness-U Street a desirable urban lifestyle landmark and are excited to bring our luxury wellness concept to the neighborhood,” says David von Storch, president of Urban Adventures Companies. “Whether you want to workout, chill out or simply hang out, this place has something for everyone.”

Von Storch’s expansion of the U Street complex delivers a premier health club facility offering classes, state-of-the-art machines, personal trainers and other high-end amenities that are characteristically found in VIDA’s other three locations at Verizon Center, Logan Circle and the Renaissance Washington, DC Hotel. VIDA Fitness provides the most extensive array of fitness equipment and group fitness programming, which includes: Life Fitness, Hammer Strength, Power Lift, Cybex, Precor, StairMaster, FreeMotion, Keiser, Hoist and Technogym. VIDA Fitness-U Street services will also include:

-Six group exercise studios that include: Gravity Training Systems by EFI Sports Medicine, Pilates, Group Fitness, Inner Fitness, Spinning and TRX.

-Aura Spa – revitalizing day spa with four full treatment rooms and spa concierge opening spring 2012.

-Zen Spa – Two endless pools, European sauna, steam room, endless pool and sauna in women’s locker room.

-VIDA quality, brand new cutting-edge strength fitness and cardio machines with individual viewing screens.

-Customized personal training program with nationally accredited personal trainers.

-Exclusive Bang Salon brand hair and body care products.

-Nutrition and group wellness instruction.

-Luxury-appointed locker rooms with rainfall showers and optional laundry and locker service.

Designed by Stoneking-von Storch Architects of Charlottesville, VA and Hallock Design Group of Miami, FL, VIDA Fitness-U Street exhibits a highly stylized atmosphere similar to a chic resort spa. Throughout the facility, VIDA’s inventive and creative design includes separate environments through the use of texture and color. Like its VIDA counterparts, the U Street space is separated into transitional spaces featuring a variety of health, fitness and personal training services.

According to designer Wade Hallock, the approach for the flagship VIDA Fitness-Street is an accumulation of designs from all the previous VIDA locations.

“Just as VIDA keeps up on the cutting-edge equipment and fitness classes I made sure the interior design evolved as well, said Hallock “Our goal is to always create a dynamic interior that enhances the experience, which is achieved through a combination of color, texture, and light.”

Over the years Hallock has successfully created a balance between décor and function when designing VIDA Fitness locations. His challenge was not to

compete with the scale and lines of the equipment. In order to give VIDA members a space that does not feel cluttered or crowded, he works with natural tones and punctuates with color. Throughout the space warm shades of taupe, ivory, chocolate, and charcoal fill the areas with punches of red. This palate allows the space to feel open and accessible. When it comes to the fitness rooms, Hallock transports members into an ambient space that emphasizes the activity.

· VIDA Fitness [Official Site]
· Apres-Workout Will Feel Like A Nightclub [CDC]

The locker rooms were given a new level of luxury and upscale spa experience to VIDA-U Street. Alligator embossed tiles and silver leaf partition walls in the showers. VIDA’s signature community style sink altars mark the center of the locker rooms with simple and clean forms in white quartz surrounded and highlighted with the rich warm wood of the lockers.

For the first time, with VIDA Fitness added into the mix, the 1612 U Street lifestyle complex will include all of von Storch’s four Urban Adventures affiliate companies under one roof. Capitol City Brewing Company will build a restaurant space specifically designed for upscale dining and based on von Storch’s newest restaurant concept 901, which opened in Penn Quarter in early June. Bang Salon, also located on the first level, opened last Friday, which was expanded and completely renovated. The revitalizing Aura Spa will also debut on the first floor, which is slated to open late spring 2012. The building currently houses a first-floor restaurant space that will be converted into executive office suites marketed to local professional services businesses.

By 2015, von Storch plans to have a total of eight VIDA Fitness locations opened and operating throughout the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Completion of VIDA Fitness-U Street brings them halfway toward that goal.