AEP Fitness Center | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | 2015

Architects: Allford Hall Monaghan Morris
Client: American Energy Partners LP.
Contractor: Smith & Pickel Construction
Photographer: Timothy Soar

An existing concrete basement is reinvented as a sport and leisure hub. The project began with American Energy Partners (AEP) seeking ideas on how to use a fallow site in northern Oklahoma City containing a half complete structure. Eight steel arches sat atop an empty concrete bunker, all that was built of what was originally destined to be a private car museum and wine warehouse.

AEP, a fast growing business in America’s natural gas industry, had outgrown its existing staff facilities nearby and was looking to use the site to provide both a new fitness and childcare center for its staff.

Straight away the approach locked onto reusing the existing structure to form the new fitness center - with the childcare center to follow later as a new build facility on the vacant land immediately to the north. Utilizing the partially complete structure presented two main challenges.

Firstly, while the concrete basement was generous in size and height, it lacked any natural light. Secondly, the size of the steel arches were both restrictive on the required sports courts and also badly corroded in the 8 years they had lay exposed. The design response was concise - punch two lightwells to either ends of the basement and replace the arches with nine new trusses sized to suit the program within.

At ground level, the resultant hanger is covered in a roof of large gauge crimped and profiled galvanised steel. The east and west gables are fully glazed, offering passing traffic views straight through and bathing the interior in natural light. Two boxes are placed under the arched roof - a single storey metal volume bisects the east glazing to form the main entry, while internally two racquetball courts are wrapped in a climbing wall.

A central stair and elevator separate cafe and personal training areas from a basketball court to the west end of the hangar. Downstairs is an open plan strength and cardio hall, running between the brace of courtyards at either end of the basement. Fitness studios area also anchored around these lightwells, while showering and changing facilities are accessed directly from the bottom of the stairs.

A restrained palette is used throughout - structure, walls and ceilings are all white to maximise the benefit of the natural light on offer. Cushioned black rubber flooring is used throughout all exercise areas, with sprung wooden floors to sports courts and fitness studios. Mechanical services are housed within a plant room running the length of the basement. Three large ducts that serve to condition the sports hangar upstairs are exposed, as are the intake and exhaust flues that line the north elevation.

Lighting is integrated within the arched trusses upstairs, while exercise areas downstairs are are fitted with uplighting to avoid glare - and concealed above louvred ceilings in studios.

Outside, a sunken volleyball court also acts as rainwater detention for the site in a part of the city yet to be fitted with stormwater infrastructure. Finally, the thoroughly planted grounds that will also eventually include the childcare center are encircled by a running track that doubles as sidewalk.