The massive development for the new Virgin Active health club that has been underway in Bryanston, Johannesburg for the last nine months has caught many a passing motorists eye, many who have been wondering when the opportunity to view those working out through those marvelous screen sized windows will happen – well it is now open! Virgin Active has expanded the number of clubs throughout the country extensively over the last few years, their design, features and facilities have set the benchmark in this sector of the leisure industry.

Lizl van Wyk, Architect, at Design Line Architects and Interiors, the consultancy that has been involved with Virgin Active’s club expansion programme commented “Six to eight new Virgin Active health clubs open every year. The philosophy of Virgin Active is to ensure that members enjoy their work-outs, and that family-time is fun while in the club. The prime focus is to ensure all members have a positive experience and this is reflected in the way the clubs are designed, decorated and built”.

“The attention to detail and the embracing of modern trends, while maintaining consistency, in the construction of these health clubs is what makes them world class. The new Bryanston Virgin Active, like many other of the group’s clubs, has top of the range facilities including special features to ensure that disabled members can access and exercise safely at the facility - pool hoists, elevators, showers, toilets, access gates and ramp ways in the parking areas are all installed for this purpose”.

What’s It All About?

While building a health club is not out of the ordinary for WBHO, the building contractor on the Bryanston project, some of the special requirements were an interesting element. WBHO Site Agent, Kobus Kotze said “The Bryanston Virgin Active development has, amongst other features, three swimming pools: one for laps, one for leisure and one for spa purposes. It was, for example, critical that no dust invaded this section; the area was closed up completely before the pools were installed. The club also has the usual steam, sauna, restrooms and a healthy eating restaurant all conforming to the Virgin Active design and layout requirements”.

“The anticipated membership flow in the health club was a factor in selecting finishes that can withstand not only constant use but also the health club environment of air circulation, steam and wet environs. Seven types of vinyl, four internal tile types and two to three carpet specifications were utilised in the finishings of the club.” said Kotze.

One of the considerations, in the choice of bricks for the club construction, is water absorption. Clay stocks were the engineer’s specified brick for the outer part of the Bryanston health club and leading brick manufacturer, Oconbrick, received the contract to supply Non-Facing Plaster Clay Stock Bricks due to their strong absorption qualities – they do not absorb water like their cement counterparts do. Non-Facing Plaster Clay Stock Brick, with their ease of plastering quality, making them not only strong, but durable. The average strength of the brick is 21 MPa.

Quantity Surveyor, Kenton Rhodes, from WBHO said “The size of the building built for Blackstar Properties, and that Virgin Active now occupies is approximately +/- 4700 m2. Oconbrick supplied 384,000 Clay Stock Bricks to the project. They are regular suppliers to WBHO as their product is well recognised within our industry for consistency of quality and shape”

“Constructing a building of this calibre has its own unique challenges, but of specific importance was the high standards and complex finishes required by the architect. We have built a few other health clubs, where Virgin Active has been the tenant, so we do understand their requirements relatively well”.

Public safety and comfort at health clubs is of paramount concern and one advantage of the Oconbrick is its resistance to heat. In addition, the bricks offer exceptional acoustic properties with good thermal insulation. Ease of handling and a low carbon footprint are two other elements that make it a preferred choice.

Further information is available from: Malebusa Sebatane, Marketing Manager, Technicrete Tel: 011 674 6957 Cell: 078 803 9863 email: malebusa.sebatane@murrob.com

Issued on behalf of Technicrete by: SJC Creative, Contact Sue Charlton Tel: 011 781 6178 Cell: 082 579 4263 email: sjc@worldonline.co.za

Rocla