As the gym is such a necessary evil, the overall ambience of your fitness space can be the difference between mass sign-ups and having your patrons retreat back to the couch! Lighting really can be that addition that changes your gym experience from a lengthy slog to more of an ‘upmarket’ spa experience.
When designing the type of space that will motivate and work for a number of fitness activities, it’s all too easy to focus on the layout and design without taking a particularly creative approach to your lighting strategy. It’s likely that within the same complex you’ll have to cater for a number of sports, classes and even a pool space, so establishing exactly what you want from each space will involve careful research in order to reduce costs and offer optimum lighting for each activity.
We know that initially it can seem like a mammoth task, so we’ve highlighted the essential considerations to take into account. Of course a specialist stage and studio installation company like PG Stage will be able to assist you with the finer details, but the simple points outlined in this blog should give you an idea of how each space should be approached.
Where should I start?
Even if you haven’t yet decided exactly how you would like to light each space in terms of type of lighting and stylisation, the CIBSE code for interior lighting gives the following guide for various internal brightness levels:
- Indoor swimming pools 200-300 lux
- Sports halls 300 lux
- Weight training areas 400 lux
Adhering to these levels is a useful way of ensuring you have optimum lighting without using unnecessary energy. Once you’ve determined the sort of lighting levels you will need for each space, you can then go about choosing lighting types that adhere to these parameters and complement your overall design and ambience. For example for indoor swimming pools you could utilise LED wall sconces to create a soft spa-effect, whereas a sports hall will need something a little more robust.
Think Green: Daylight control and motion sensors
Energy-saving technology is no longer accepted as a ‘selling point’ in venues; your patrons expect it and as a business your focus should be on reducing any unnecessary utility costs. Utilising LED lighting throughout your space (wherever possible) is stylish, practical and ideal for your energy saving efforts (LED lighting uses significantly less energy than incandescents and halogens).
But it’s also well worth thinking beyond your lighting choices and installing sensors which actually tailor your venue lighting to the conditions. Daylight and motion sensors have become increasingly popular in public venues and are especially useful in gyms which tend to be window (and therefore daylight!) heavy. By installing this technology you can reap impressive savings during the summer months and avoid dazzling your patrons with harsh fluorescent lighting.
Adaptable Lighting
You may have spaces completely dedicated to their functions (for example a yoga lounge and dance space) but for venues utilising one studio for everything from Pilates to Zumba, it’ll always be more practical to install adaptable lighting systems. A dimmer system is ideal for altering the amount of light emitted and a dimmer can be utilised across a range of lighting options such as halogens, fluorescent lights and LEDs. Of course we’d recommend going for the LED option for the energy saving properties. You may also want to opt for some intelligent lights (or moving lights) if you’re trying to establish a particularly high-energy environment as these can be pre-programmed to a dance or exercise routine.
We hope that’s given you some useful initial points to consider and shown you how you can install energy saving lighting throughout without compromising on style. To find out more about these lighting solutions, please get in touch with our stage and studio installation specialists at PG Stage.