ATLANTA—Studies show most multifamily renters don't use the fitness center. Will they evolve or go by the way of the dinosaur? GlobeSt.com caught up with Doug Bibby, president of the National Multifamily Housing Council, to get his insights in this exclusive interview.
GlobeSt.com: While fitness centers have long ranked among the most sought after apartment amenities, health and wellness has evolved into a more global concept which includes mind, body and spirit. How is the apartment industry responding to this trend?
Bibby: While renters have long ranked fitness centers as important amenities in apartment communities, NMHC's 2017 Renter Preferences Report notes 41% of renters with fitness centers rarely or never use them. And, as evidenced by the popularity of Soul Cycle and Orange Theory, consumers don't just want to exercise—they want to be part of an experience.
The National Multifamily Housing Council and KTGY Architecture + Planning teamed up to address some of these trends and released a report. The report is titled Disruption: How demographics, psychographics and technology are bringing multifamily to the brink of a design revolution.
GlobeSt.com: The survey also reveals 76% of respondents noted they are working to achieve a healthy lifestyle. What could future multifamily fitness centers or programs look like?
Bibby: In the new trends report, based on data from our 2018 Consumer Housing Insights Survey, we explored amenities under four different themes: Amuse, Consume, Create and Refresh. The reimagined Amuse Amenity shows how fitness facilities in apartment buildings can become more dynamic and engaging in the future.
GlobeSt.com: Can you give me some specific examples of what the future could look like in that regard?
Bibby: Here are a few: A glass climbing wall offers users numerous summit routes of varying difficulty. Handgrips along the wall light up to suggest a path as you ascend. Openings where the floors meet the walls allow climber access at a point.
Runners can beat boredom with a looping, multilevel track that spirals through a voluminous space. Built-in digital leader boards, health monitors and virtual games can help users further customize their athletic routines. Users can choose to race an Olympic medalist, a quarterback or even a T-Rex.
The space also offers areas for other kinds of physical activity. Aerial silks hang from the tracks at differing heights, elevating traditional yoga to a more whimsical experience. Bright red floors punctuated with foam boulders mark an intermediary climbing, play and rest zone for users of all fitness levels.
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