Design Guide - PFF

Technical Criteria

Originally developed for the Corps of Engineers by

Hastings & Chivetta Architects in association with Construction Engineering & Management

Updated by the US Army Engineering and Support Center, Huntsville

Technical Criteria for U.S. Army Physical Fitness Facilities

Standard Criteria

Updated June, 2010

U.S. Army Physical Fitness Facilities

Technical Criteria for U.S. Army Physical Fitness Facilities

Developed for the Corps of Engineers a0edcjtc Typewritten Text a0edcjtc Typewritten Text a0edcjtc Typewritten Text a0edcjtc Typewritten Text a0edcjtc Typewritten Text a0edcjtc Typewritten Text Updated April, 2010 a0edcjtc Typewritten Text a0edcjtc Typewritten Text a0edcjtc Typewritten Text a0edcjtc Typewritten Text a0edcjtc Typewritten Text a0edcjtc Typewritten Text U.S. Army Engineering and Support Center, Huntsville a0edcjtc Typewritten Text

U.S. Army Physical Fitness Facilities

Executive SummaryI A. Summary of Findings

Facility Allocation Four Physical Fitness Facility (PFF) building programs are developed and presented herein. The PFF buildings are allocated on the basis of authorized population (AP) which includes 100% of active duty military and 25% of their dependents. Retirees are not counted in the AP at this time.

DoD civilians are included at 10% only if they exceed 60% of the total workforce for CONUS installations. OCONUS installations are authorized at 100% of the civilian population in their AP. The four PFF total building program areas include the following:

X-Small 251 to 1,000 AP 27,771GSF (Gross Square Feet) Small 1,001 to 3,000 AP 44,347GSF Medium 3,001 to 6,000 AP 64,799GSF Large 6,001 to 10,000 AP 89,448GSF

To calculate PFF building program for APs that exceed 10,000, an “Increment” building program is provided to increase the Large building program. The Increment program is intended to serve each additional 5,000 persons over 10,000 and includes 30,677SF. Thus, a total AP of 20,000 would require a Large PFF of 89,448SF + two 30,677SF Increments for a total of 150,802SF.

Facility Evaluation - Program Area A breakdown of the Critical Function Modules (CFM) or components in the PFF is provided on page 5. Existing and new facilities should be inventoried and measured to assess compliance with these program areas.

A PFF is considered to be in compliance with the PFF requirements when the following occurs:

- If Fitness, Exercise and Shower/Locker/Toilet CFM components and their subcomponents individually meet a minimum of 95% of the net square foot required space, the CFM are considered in compliance.

- If the number of Racquetball or Squash Courts required in the Structured Activity Component is met, even if the courts are smaller than the required area, the component is considered to be in compliance. If compliance is not met, the required courts should be added by using a net increase of 850SF per court.

- If the Gymnasium component has the required number of courts sized at 50’x94’ regardless of whether the required bleacher and storage areas are met, the Gym Component is considered to be in compliance. If this requirement is not met, new Gymnasium modules should provided per the PFF Space Allowance Table shown on page 5.

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U.S. Army Physical Fitness Facilities

- If there is one track, and the gross area of the PFF meets area required to serve the AP, regardless of whether the track meets the required CFM area, this component is considered to be in compliance.

- If PFF components are brought into compliance with the above standards and the facility is a maximum of 10% over the allowed gross square foot area, the facility is considered to be in compliance. If the component sizes cannot be sized to meet the space standards defined above without exceeding a 10% overage, the PFF should be renovated or replaced to achieve a more efficient building design.

Facility Evaluation - Quality Standards Standards for new construction should meet the quality standards described in Section IV - Building Design Criteria. Renovation of existing facilities should be evaluated on a case by case basis.

A. Background

History of Development Headquarters, Family, Morale, Welfare, and Recreation Command (FMWRC), with the Corps of Engineers, have developed new design standards for Physical Fitness Facilities (PFF) for military bases in and out of CONUS. This report presents four PFF buildings to serve authorized populations ranging from 250 to 10,000. The facilities are categorized as X-Small, Small, Medium and Large. Standard increments have also been developed to accommodate populations over 10,000.

In order to function as a PFF, a facility must, at a minimum, include the following Critical Function Modules (CFM):

- Fitness Module (cardiovascular, circuit and free weight areas)

- Exercise Module (exercise rooms for instruction i.e. aerobics)

- Structured Activity Module (racquetball and other activities)

- Gymnasium Module (suitable for basketball and volleyball)

- Locker / Shower / Sauna Module

To test the adequacy of the indoor spaces for each PFF, national participation statistics were used to predict the recreational interests of active duty personnel. The national participation statistics, from a civilian survey of approximately 50% men - 50% women, were adjusted to fit a military base demographic of 80% men - 20% women.

National survey responses were narrowed to the 18-44 year age group which represents 96.9% of the active duty army personnel.

Each module was tested and adjusted to verify its ability to accommodate the recreation, fitness and health interests of Active Duty (AD) personnel during peak times. Peak use varies from activity to activity. For activities requiring instruction or teams, peak use fluctuates between 50-60% of the hours of operation. For walk-in and individual activities such as fitness or running peak use varies between 80-90% of operating hours. The total hours of operation are 100 per week and reasonable attendance is assumed. Utilization worksheets for all four facilities are provided in the Appendix.

Findings Utilization testing of Fitness, Exercise and Non-Structured Modules confirms that program areas are adequately sized to meet demand even when civilian statistics for fitness are nearly tripled. Module areas that fall short of meeting peak demand are Gymnasium (Medium and Large), Racquetball (Medium and Large) and Jogging Track (Large)

Design Concepts II

Recommendations Gymnasium Module

a) Constructing additional courts is not recommended to meet the short fall. A 50’ x 94’ court is a large area relative to the number of participants that can be accommodated for a basketball or volleyball game. Constructing and maintaining new courts is not an economically feasible solution to providing more game time.

Programming half-court games, extending program hours, and providing outdoor courts are all viable alternatives.

b) Recreation trends over the past ten years show steady interest in basketball but a downward trend in volleyball. Overall, national participation for volleyball for all age groups dropped from 25.1% in 1989 to 11.7% in 1999. This trend may result in a lower demand for volleyball court time.

Racquetball Court

a) Recreation trends over the past ten years show a steady decline in racquetball of 8.2% in 1989 to 3.2% in 1999. Meeting the shortage in peak demand can be satisfied by using the Structured Activity Space for an additional court. The contingency space for every building size easily accommodates an additional racquetball or squash court.

Jogging Track

a) Exercise walking, jogging and running are popular activities.

Walking has grown 20% over the past ten years and is becoming a staple of recreational activity for all age groups. National statistics do not separate survey responses by indoor track, treadmill or outdoor participation. Notwithstanding, each facility will provide a minimum of one suspended track surrounding the gymnasium.

Facilities in extreme climates can expand track areas by looping the track around other indoor components. Need should be reviewed on a case by case basis.

B. Physical Fitness Facility (PFF) Space Allowance Table

Net and gross areas PFFs are itemized below. These spaces have been sized and tested for ability to meet peak demand based on a recommended square foot per person area published by the National Intramural-Recreation Sports Association (NIRSA) Space Standard for Indoor Facilities.

CFM Component NIRSA Recommended Area Exercise Module - Aerobics 50SF per participant Exercise Module - Non-Structured 125SF per participant Gymnasium Court - Basketball 14 participants + 4 rotating in Gymnasium Court - Volleyball 16 participants + 4 rotating in Fitness Module 50SF per equipment station 65SF per free weight station Structured Activity - Racquetball 4 participants per 800SF Court Indoor Track 1 runner/ 20 lineal feet

An “Increment” program area is provided to increase the X-Large facility to serve authorized populations that exceed 15,000. The Increment area will serve 5,000 persons. Thus, a population of 19,000 requires an X-Large PFF plus one Increment.

AUTHORIZED PFF SPACE ALLOWANCE

CRITICAL FUNCTIONAL AREAS & TOTAL PFF

BUILDING AREA (Areas in square feet)

X-

SMALL

SMALL

MEDIUM

LARGE

X-LARGE INCREMENT

Minimum Population: 251 1,001 3,001 6,001 10,001 1 Maximum Popultion: 1,000 3,000 6,000 10,000 15,000 5,000

Cardiovascular Area 550 1,350 2,550 4,000 6,000 2,000 Circuit Area 800 1,350 1,650 2,300 3,300 1,000 Free Weight Area 975 1,885 3,055 5,200 7,995 2,795 Stretching/Fitness Assessment 225 400 575 750 925 175

Fitness Module

Storage 233 459 726 1,150 1,730 580 Large Group Exercise 1,200 1,650 2,800 4,500 6,750 2,250 Exercise Module Storage 120 165 280 450 675 225

Structured Activities

Racquetball Courts, Climbing Wall, Spinning Classroom, Combatives, Concesssions, Child Care, etc. 4,740 5,183 6,310 8,002 12,104 4,102 Basketball Courts (Gym) 9775 17,400 25,200 33,000 41,400 8,400 Gym Module Storage 700 1,050 1,400 1,750 2,100 350

TOTAL NET OF MODULES: 19,318 30,892 44,546 61,102 82,979 21,877

SUPPORT AREA ALLOWANCES:

Sauna, Lockers, Showers, Toilets 2,400 3,800 5,850 8,800 11,800 3,000

Director's Office 120 120 120 120 130 10 Program Mgr's Office 0 100 100 100 110 10

Support Staff Workstations 128 128 256 320 384 64 Copy/file/work/break Room 160 240 160 170 180 10

Storage 20 29 32 36 40 5 Classroom/Training Room 0 0 420 420 420 0

Classroom/Training Storage 0 0 60 60 60 0

Admin

Internal Circulation (20%) 86 123 230 245 265 21 Estimated Lobby 230 440 650 880 1,090 210

Est. Control Counter/Storage 300 512 725 938 1,151 213 Lobby Estimated Public Restrooms 287 515 851 1,280 1,376 96

Miscellaneous (M/E, Circ., Struct., and other functions not listed – janitor, laundry, etc.) 4,722 7,447 10,800 14,978 20,141 5,161

TOTAL GROSS AREAS: 27,771 44,347 64,799 89,448 120,125 30,677

C. Allocation of Facilities – Programming

Method of Allocation Physical Fitness Facilities are allocated on the basis of Authorized Population (AP). Authorized population is counted as follows:

100% of Active Duty personnel (AD) 25% of AD Dependents 10% of Civilians (in CONUS) if they are 60% of the total workforce 100% of Civilians (OCONUS) regardless of percentage of workforce

New Construction If no PFF exists on post, the procedure for allocating facility size is to calculate AP and reference the Authorized PFF Space Allowance Table on Page 5. Recommendations are presented in Section III of this manual to establish criteria for designing, constructing and equipping a new facility.

Existing Facilities If there is an existing PFF on the installation, the procedure for assessment is:

- Calculate total AP

- Determine the Authorized PFF Space Allowance (see below)

- Measure PFF from outside wall to outside wall (gross square feet)

- Inventory and measure interior spaces (net square feet)

- Compare actual net and gross areas to Authorized PFF Allowances

- Identify deficits

- Identify surplus

- Analyze the facility for conformity to minimum ISR quality standards

- Record inadequacies or inefficiencies (surplus areas)

Since facilities are allocated solely on the basis of authorized population, it is important to accurately calculate the total authorized population. Army guidelines provide for only 25% of dependents to be counted in the AP. DoD statistics report that Fifty-percent of active duty personnel are married with an average of 2.83 dependents. Failure to accurately count the total Authorized Population may result in a facility that is undersized. Some of the consequences of an under-programmed PFF will be overcrowding and shortened life-span of building resources and equipment.

Assumption A chart illustrating a prototypical demographic breakdown of an Authorized Population of 1,000 persons is shown on the next page.

Studies to test module sizes assume the peak user group for this prototype is AD personnel that makes up 74% of the total AP. The current DoD demographic profile for activity duty personnel in the DA is 85% Men and 15% Women. The DoD projects that within ten years the demographic split will be 80% Men and 20% Women. An overall male/female demographic for a total installation with an AD split of 80/20 Men/Women is estimated to be 60% Men and 40% Women.

The two charts above illustrate the demographic profile of a CONUS installation with a civilian workforce of less than 60%. This installation qualifies for an X-Small PFF. The AP of 1,000 is comprised of 50% unmarried AD and 50% married AD with 2.83 dependents. This emulates the 2001 DoD statistic for the DA overall. The chart demonstrates that a PFF designed to accommodate an AP of 1,000 may have an actual installation population of 1,784.

The total Dependents (G) are assumed to be spouses and children.

Children are expected to visit the PFF during off-peak times. The peak user group, creating demand in early morning and after-work hours, is expected to be adults. The lower chart illustrates that the actual adult population is 1,108 with a projected demographic of 60% Male and 40% Female.

It is unlikely that all 1,108 adults will visit the PFF at peak times. Some AD will be on-duty and spouses may be at home with children. For purpose of this study, the peak user group for all facilities is assumed to be 74% of the AP which equates to almost 100% of the AD personnel.

The demographic profile of 80/20 Men/Women is used, even though 60/40 represents the overall base demographic. Depending on the MACOM and installation mission, the AD demographic may change, affecting participation statistics and utilization. Adjustments should be made to PFF Space allowances if the Male/Female population shifts more than 10% in either direction. See Section IV - Appendix for guidance in making adjustments.

Programming Programming a Physical Fitness Facility (PFF) requires several steps to accommodate the Army’s goals to provide adequate PFF facilities at every installation.

1. Determine if there are any PFF(s) existing on the installation already. If a PFF(s) already exists on the installation, determine whether the existing PFF(s) will be demolished or converted to some other use as part of this project, or shortly after the new facility is constructed, such that this new facility will be the only PFF on the installation. If no PFF exists, or the existing one will be removed from the inventory once the new one is built, use the gross areas provided in the PFF Space Allowance Table on Page 5 which is based on the authorized population of the installation. This includes instances where a entirely new community is being developed away from the main installation.

2. If there are PFF facilities that will remain after the new facility has been constructed, determine if a Quantity Worksheet has been completed for the installation, which shows the total gross area of the facility as well as the net areas of all the functional modules.

a. If the Quantity Worksheet has been completed, use the results from the worksheet to program the new facility. If the result indicates that you must build more than authorized in order to meet C1 status, please obtain MACOM approval as required.

Also, evaluate the space in your existing PFF(s) to determine if the space could be utilized more efficiently, or if it would be wise to remove some of the facilities from your inventory.

Utilize the Quality Worksheets from the ISR to help determine if a facility should be removed or renovated.

b. If a Quantity Worksheet cannot be completed before programming the new facility, use the Standard Criteria to determine the allowed area for the authorized population of the installation. Subtract from that number the total gross building area of any PFF that will remain. The result is the amount that may be programmed for a new PFF. Realize that without the Quantity Worksheet, this new building may not meet the requirements for C1, and another construction or renovation project may be required in the out years.

3. In the overall gross areas for PFF, a “Miscellaneous Area” has been provided to accommodate circulation, wall thickness, and mechanical/ electrical spaces, and other required spaces not identified elsewhere. This area is calculated at 20% of the total net area of the functional modules. If there are larger mechanical and/or electrical requirements, this additional space must be added during the programming phase. FUNCTIONAL MODULES MAY NOT

BE REDUCED IN AREA TO ACCOMMODATE MECHANICAL

AND/OR ELECTRICAL REQUIREMENTS. Areas provided for each functional module are directly related to the requirements in the Installation Status Report (ISR). Reduction of these areas will result in a lower “C” rating for the installation, even after the construction of a brand new facility.

4. Computation of Gross Areas. The gross area of facilities will be computed according to the definition in Chapter 5 of TI 800-01.

5. New PFF(s) will be designed in accordance with this document, the approved Army Standard, the UFC 4-740-02, and other criteria maintained by the US Army Corps of Engineers Center of Standardization.

A. Component Descriptions

Lobby A well-designed lobby serves to not only welcome visitors to the fitness facility, but also to motivate them. Functionally, the lobby provides a passageway to organize the building. Referred to as “public space” the lobby physically leads visitors from the exterior to the control point. The control desk should be adjacent to the entry for check-in/out and equipment issue. This facilitates monitoring and restricting access to the building and gives all visitors an arrival destination. From the control point, users can be easily directed to major activity areas and support spaces. Open views into the gymnasium, fitness facility and other activity modules instantly define building function and capture user attention. These views also enable supervision of activities from the control desk.

Features that make the lobby an inviting space include lounges to provide refuge for anyone waiting for a friend or for court time.

However, recreation facility lounge areas should not resemble airport waiting areas with tandem seating. Instead, seating should be placed to invite socialization and relaxation with features that include an oversized television, comfortable seating and kiosk or message center.

Small cafe-style tables and chairs may be provided if vending machines are available.

The shape of the lobby can either be classically geometric or a lineal concourse. The mall concept is newer and integrates retail thinking. A long passageway increases visual connection to fitness elements, thereby advertising activities. Lobby orientation is influenced by other factors including sun angles, tree coverage and pedestrian /vehicular circulation. Site context, massing and material selection also impact lobby design.

The aesthetic impact of the lobby relies on the placement and quality of finish materials. Durability and maintainability play a significant role in the selection of finishes for high-traffic areas. In general, warm colors and soft textures are most successful at creating an ambiance that invites users to linger in the transitory space. Terrazzo or porcelain tile floors add durability and quality. Suitable wall materials include burnished or split-face block, masonry or epoxy-painted concrete masonry units. Lobby lighting should allow for natural light through large windows and clerestories and should be provided with a combination of natural and artificial light sources to utilize daylighting and daylight harvesting within the space. Various ceiling heights and drywall bulkheads help to define lobby functions.

More than any other space in the facility, the lobby furnishings and fixtures contribute to forming the user’s impression of the building.

Furniture, display cases, refuse containers, plants, graphics and signage should all be carefully coordinated.

Functional Relationships

& Module Design Criteria III

Gymnasiums Large volume gyms are often neglected by designers because function overwhelms creative possibilities. However, with careful planning, these “big-box” spaces will respond to a wide variety of program needs.

No other space can accommodate multiple activities as well as the gymnasium. Through the use of simple devices like divider curtains, concurrent basketball, volleyball, and even tennis is possible. Suspend the running track above the floor and runners or walkers can overlook floor activities. Such a large volume can incorporate interior views at many levels to look across to racquetball courts, high ceiling lobbies, or climbing walls. Views to the exterior offer visual variety from the inside and add interest in the facility to passersby. Windows have the added benefit of bringing in natural light in what traditionally has been an artificially lit and harsh environment. In short, careful planning of even the most utilitarian elements can make the gymnasium the visual and functional hub of the facility.

High performance materials, color, lighting, and ventilation are key elements that make gymnasiums attractive spaces. Ventilation systems should be designed with adequate air changes to maintain a suitable activity environment. Recommendations are provided in Section IV of this report. Color and lighting impact overall design. Neutral colors for walls and white ceilings can be easily combined with accent colors.

Light colors are also reflective, making a large-volume space easier to illuminate. Darker colors hide marks on the walls, but absorb light requiring greater levels of artificial illumination. Selection and placement of light fixtures is crucial to achieving even but not harsh illumination. Downlighting alone may cause hot spots and glare on the playing surface. Indirect lighting alone may not provide sufficient light for competitive play. The preferred solution is a combination of indirect and direct lighting that illuminates the entire space with a minimum amount of glare. Recommendations for light level are provided in Section IV.

Suspending the running track helps to reduce the apparent volume of the gym module, as well as provide an opportunity to introduce accent colors and decorative elements via the railings and structural supports for the track. Accenting selected elements within the entire space can create a sense of energy and excitement, or in softer tones create a more relaxed atmosphere. Every element within the volume must be considered for its functional and visual impact on the whole.

Bleacher seating, basketball backstops, and divider curtains are other elements that provide opportunities for accenting and highlighting the space. Not only used for activity control, divider curtains form one of the strongest visual elements in the space. Careful consideration of mounting height and the proportion of solid versus open mesh material can prevent divider curtains from blocking views, lowering light levels, and constricting an otherwise light and open volume.

Flooring materials have the greatest impact on user satisfaction. Select high performance wood floors that utilize neoprene shock pads for impact absorption to reduce injuries while maintaining near perfect ball return characteristics. Maple floors are the industry standard, but a wide variety of appearance grades are possible. Lower grades may reduce cost for the same performance, but allow undesirable visual variation in the boards. Synthetic sports floors also offer competitive cost and performance characteristics while allowing the introduction of colors and durability. To repeat, careful planning and a reasonable understanding of how each element affects the visual quality of the space are key to creating a superior gymnasium. Technical guidelines for track and flooring elements are in Section IV.

The layouts follow regulations from nationally recognized sports associations like the United States Volleyball Association (USAV) and the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA). It is required that new courts conform to competitive standards nationwide. The correct volume for the gymnasium module starts with the proper court dimensions, clear heights, and sideline allowances. Minimum clear height of the gymnasium is 28’ from floor to lowest element.

As of October, 2003, the governing bodies for Volleyball and Basketball, along with some of the facility requirements, are listed below. Current regulations shall be followed. Actually Army requirements are defined further in this document.

Regulation Information from the USA Volleyball Rule Book USA Volleyball (USAV) is the national governing body for the sport of volleyball in the United States and is recognized by the Federation International de Volleyball (FIVB) and the United States Olympic Committee (USOC).

Ceiling Height The playing space is free from any obstructions to a height of 7 m (23') from the playing surface.

Playing Court The playing court measures 18 m x 9 m (59' x 29’6").

Center Line The axis of the center line divides the court into two team courts measuring 9m x 9 m (29’6" x 29’6") each.

Lines All lines on the court are 5 cm (2") wide.

Boundary Lines Boundary lines: Two sidelines and two end lines mark the playing court. All boundary lines are drawn inside the dimensions of the playing court.

Attack Lines Attack lines are drawn in each team court so that the edge of the attack line farthest from the center line is 3 m (9’10") from the axis of the center line. Extensions of the attack lines outside the court shall be marked with five 6" lines spaced 8" apart to a total length of 70" (for national competition).

Area Around the Court (Free Zone) The free zone surrounds the court with a recommended minimum width of 2 m (6’6").

Net Height FIVB, USAV, California Beach Volleyball Association (CBVA), Women’s Professional Beach Volleyball Association WPVA

Net height for men, cooed mixed 6, & outdoor is 2.43 meters or 7’11- 5/8".

Net height for women, boy’s 14-and-under & reversed mixed 6 is 2.24 meters or 7’4-1/8".

Net height for 12-and-under is 2.13m or 7’0".

Net height for girl’s 10-and-under is 1.98m or 6’6".

Information from the NCAA for Basketball Court Dimensions and Markings The ideal playing area is 50 feet wide by 94 feet long with at least 3 feet (preferably 10 feet) of open area outside the boundaries.

In addition to sidelines and end lines, markings include a center circle;

a division line through the center circle from sideline to sideline, dividing the court into two equal parts; a free-throw lane (12 feet wide) and free-throw line (15 feet from the backboard) at each end of the court and a broken restraining line outside the court 6 feet from, and parallel to, the end lines. The center circle has a 6-foot radius. The area inside the circle may not be occupied by the eight nonjumpers until one of the two jumpers has tapped the ball.

The three-point arc, measured 19 feet 9 inches from the center of the basket, serves as the boundary line to let the referee know that three points shall be awarded for a successful field-goal attempt from beyond the line.

Fitness Module Strength, cardiovascular and free-weight areas have moved from the dark recesses of gymnasium basements to become the most sought after and visible components of fitness facilities. High schools have incorporated fitness training into standard curriculum. Colleges now recognize that students come to their campus with a well-founded interest in fitness and wellness pursuits. Most young recruits will also be familiar with an array of workout equipment. Since military readiness is inextricably connected with fitness, this component should offer a stimulating environment that promotes an ongoing interest in physical proficiency.

Because of this enhanced purpose, army fitness modules should be designed for function and aesthetics. Many private sector facilities are used as much for socialization as fitness. Aesthetics in these private niche facilities is largely market-driven with interiors that sometimes resemble a nightspot. Community and collegiate recreation centers must appeal to a wider group satisfying more diverse expectations.

These facilities generally benefit from a timeless design approach.

Army fitness facilities should adopt a similar tactic. Newer thinking in fitness design integrates all equipment into one area, but creates separations in function by using halfwalls, dropped ceilings, and changes in flooring materials. Free weight equipment must be directly visible and directly accessible to the reception (control) desk.

Recommended free weight flooring is rubber or synthetic flooring material. Dispersing cardiovascular equipment within lobbies or overlooks helps to bring movement throughout the facility and addresses differing individual workout needs. Army fitness facilities shall have cardiovascular equipment located in at least 2 areas of the facility. Cardiovascular “theaters” include overhead mounted television monitors. In all, electrical considerations must be taken into account to power not just existing equipment, but future equipment as well. In addition, future needs and flexibility must be considered.

Lighting is crucial to providing a stimulating fitness environment.

Indirect lighting and a visual connection to indoor and outdoor vistas will have a positive influence on the users’ frame of mind. For safety reasons, primarily indirect lighting must be used in the free-weight area. An exposed, painted ceiling can contribute a high-tech look, providing some other acoustical elements are incorporated to offset the hard-surface. Wall materials should be durable but not institutional.

Mirrors, graphics, soft textures and wallcarpeting will help to soften the entire fitness environment. Recommendations for finishes are provided in Section IV of this report.

Regardless of the finishes and other design features, inadequate ventilation and temperature control will result in an undesirable workout experience. Mechanical systems should be capable of adjusting to different internal loads and occupancies at different times of the day. Recommendations for temperature and humidity levels are provided in Section IV of this report.

Exercise Module Over the past 30 years, group fitness activities have maintained steady growth and progression. Aerobic classes of the seventies were characterized by strained muscles and high impact movement in bare feet. Frequent injuries quickly taught instructors serious lessons about exercise safety. Since that time, improvements in flooring, footwear, equipment and instruction technique have helped to generate safer, low impact movements that prevent injury.

Today, the list of popular classroom activities continues to grow including step aerobics, conditioning, yoga, martial arts, kick-boxing, dance, urban rebounding, etc. All of these activities provide aerobic or “cardio” conditioning. Some programs incorporate strength training by using steps, handheld weights, elastic bands and stability balls.

Fitness programs that support military readiness may include many of the above activities combined with individualized workouts in the fitness module. Providing adequate programming will be the greatest challenge for PFF facility operators. In addition, young recruits may have a desire for activities that imitate extreme sports. Flexibility in classroom design will be essential to accommodate a variety of programs.

The staff for each PFF should monitor the popularity of programs and equip the exercise modules accordingly. The desire to participate in group exercise will be influenced not only by trend, but also by the quality of the space. In addition, the quality of the instructors will play a significant role in the participation in exercise programs. A skilled and enthusiastic instructor will quickly create demand. Hiring and retaining proficient instructors is key to filling group programs.

Each PFF is programmed with a minimum of 1 large group exercise studio, which is provided with a movable wall to allow for dividing the space into 2 separate spaces. Storage is provided for both sides of the room and is designed for flow-through circulation to minimize down time during the class. Design criteria for the exercise module is provided in Section IV and includes data for flooring, lighting and environmental conditions.

Structured Activity Module Structured activity areas have very specific design requirements.

However, the orientation of these components is subjective.

Racquetball courts can be provided with this allocation, or other elements that could include a spinning studio, climbing wall, squash court, etc.

Racquetball participation is on the decline in the United States decreasing from 8.2% in 1989 to 3.2% in 1999. These spaces are expensive to construct and are not easily adapted to other use. A careful review of the need for racquetball courts should be reviewed by each installation before constructing new or additional courts. That said, court play is exciting to watch. A highly competitive game will draw spectators who may be on the way to or from their own activities.

Views into racquetball from the lobby or main corridor system add vitality to the building.

The United States Racquetball Association (USRA) and International Racquetball Federation (IRF) provide specification criteria for court design and construction. Courts shall be built to USRA/IRF standards to ensure they are suitable for all types of play, including international matches. Design criteria for racquetball courts is provided in Section IV of this report.

U.S. Army Physical Fitness Facilities

Sauna, Lockers, Showers, Toilet Important locker room design elements include aesthetics, environment, layout and location. Every effort should be made to provide a direct connection between locker facilities and major activity spaces. Design options for consideration include family change rooms or satellite uni-sex change rooms for after-hour use. Convertible locker room space that is accessible from both male or female locker rooms will provide a “swing” space to increase locker room capacity for special events. An example of a locker room design incorporating swing space is shown in the left margin.

Other key objectives in locker room design include selecting eye catching colors, using maintenance-free materials and providing an adequate ventilation system. Every material used in the shower, toilet, locker and sauna area has color. Coordinating these color finishes, as well as other building materials, should be done in consultation with design professions.

In general, multicolored schemes are more appealing than pallets that are limited to shades of gray or neutrals. Manufacturers have broadened color options over the last decade and simplified the specification process. Most tile manufacturers provide preset tile patterns in sheets. Standard patterns are cost effective and require minimal color selection. These floor patterns are an excellent method of adding design quality for very little money.

Coordinating wall tile patterns, wall graphics, paint, toilet and shower partitions, and locker room flooring will tie these elements together and unify the entire locker room space.

Concrete masonry unit (CMU) wall construction is recommended for locker room areas. Wall finishes in wet areas should be nonporous materials such as glazed ceramic wall tile, glazed CMU, or unglazed porcelain tile. Wall tile can be carried throughout non-wet areas or CMU can be filled and painted with an epoxy coating. Slip resistant materials or unglazed porcelain tile should be used for floors in all wet areas. Epoxy grouts for floor tile should be darker to offset the discoloration that will come with time. Antimicrobial, pvc-backed carpet with welded seams is an ideal finish for locker areas.

The carpet provides an acoustical element to help muffle the sound of metal locker doors.

Recommended ceiling materials include plaster ceilings in wet areas and a moisture-resistant suspended ceiling in locker room areas.

Maintenance of wet areas and locker rooms is the final, and most important, component in providing an appealing recreational experience. Even though most users may change and shower in a short period of time before departing, every user in the facility will take notice of neglected locker room areas. Instituting adequate procedures and daily inspection will go a long way to extending the life-span of finishes.

Specific recommendations for materials and finishes can be found in Section IV of this report.

U.S. Army Physical Fitness Facilities

F itness

S torage

Control

S tair

S ta ir

Gymnas ium Module

L obby

V es tib ul e

Equip/ L aundry

E lev

E q.Ofc.

S tor.

Women

T l t. S tor.

Men

T l t.

Running T rack Above

Mech

S to r.

S to r.

S ta ir

S tair

R B

Other S truct.

Activity

Aerobic E xercise

( Large Group)

S to r.

S to r.

S to r.

S to r.

Non- S tructured E xercise

(S mall Group)

Open to B elow

Open to Gym B elow

E lev

Mech.

Adjacency Diagram - X-Small Facility **

Scale: 1” = 40’-0”

Control desk located near entry with direct visibility to Fitness

Orient Locker Rooms to serve future Natatorium

Consider large door and adjacency to service drive for moving large equipment in and out of

Fitness Storage

Open views into Fitness

If Exercise rooms are contiguous, consider a room divider for large capacity multipurpose activities

If feasible, provide natural daylight natural light

UPPER LEVELLOWER LEVEL

** These adjacency diagrams represent one example of the functional relationship of building components. Other arrangements are acceptable, providing all functional requirements are met.

U.S. Army Physical Fitness Facilities

Gymnas ium Module

R unning T rack Above

F itnes s

S tor.

St or

Control

M ec ha ni ca l

S ta ir

S tair

Ofc

S tair

L obby

E lev

Women

Women

Men

Men

F itnes s

O p en

Open to B elow

O p en

S tair

S tor. S tor.

Non-S tructured E xercise

(S mall Group)

Aerobic E xercise

(L arge Group)

S tor.

S ta ir

S tair

E lev

Women

Mech

Men Open

Open R acquetball

Other S truct.

Activity

O p en

Adjacency Diagram Small Facility **

Scale: 1” = 40’-0”

UPPER LEVEL

LOWER LEVEL Control desk with direct visibility to

Fitness

Locker rooms oriented to serve possible future

Natatorium

Fitness Storage accessible from service drive to move large equipment

Open views from Lobby into Fitness n at u ra l lig h t n at u ra l lig h t n at u ra l lig h t

** These adjacency diagrams represent one example of the functional relationship of building components.

Other arrangements are acceptable, providing all functional requirements are met.

U.S. Army Physical Fitness Facilities

Office

S tor.

E x it E x it

E x it

St or ag e

Women

Women

E lev.

L obby

Men

Men

S tair

S tair

S tair

F itnes sGymnas ium Module

R unning T rack Above

Control

Eq.

S tor.

Open

Open

Open to Gymnasium B elow O p en S tor.

S to r.

M e ch an ic al

Women

E lev.

Men

S tair

S tair

S tair

Other S truct.

Activity

R acquetball

Non-S tructured E x ercis e

(S mall Group)

Mechanical

Aerobic E x ercise

(Large Group)

Adjacency Diagram - Medium Facility**

Scale: 1” = 50’-0”

UPPER LEVEL

LOWER LEVEL

Control desk with direct visibility to Fitness

Fitness Storage accessible from service drive to move large equipment

Open views from Lobby into

Fitness n at u ra l lig h tDivider

Partition

** These adjacency diagrams represent one example of the functional relationship of building components. Other arrangements are acceptable, providing all the functional requirements are met.

U.S. Army Physical Fitness Facilities

S ta ir S ta ir

S tair

S torage

Women

Women

Men

Men

Office

Control

E qE lev

Gymnas ium Module

F itnes sL obby

R unning T rack Above

S torage

St ai r S ta ir

Aerobic E x ercise

(Large Group)

S tair

Other S truct.

Activity

S torage

S to ra ge

R oof

Mechanical

Open

O p en

Non-S tructured E x ercise

(Small Group)

R B

R B

Women

Men

S to r.

Adjacency Diagram - Large Facility**

Scale: 1” = 60’-0”

UPPER LEVELLOWER LEVEL

Direct visibility to Fitness

S er vi ce

D ri ve a cc es s

Open views from Lobby into

Fitness

Divider Partition n at u ra l lig h t n at u ra l lig h t

** These adjacency diagrams represent one example of the functional relationship of building components. Other arrangements are acceptable, providing all the functional requirements are met.

The diagrams on pages 22 and 23 indicate other possible arrangements for a Medium PFF. Both of these illustrate an attached natatorium.

A. Component Descriptions

A. Site Criteria

Site Considerations Site considerations for recreation facilities are generally no more restricting to placement and orientation than general construction of any large facility. The few exceptions are critical for proper performance of the most common site failures; water transmission and uneven settling under the 35K/ square foot or greater loads typical to recreation facility foundations. If feasible, building siting should be close to outdoor sports fields.

Soils testing: Retain a qualified geo-technical engineer to take borings on site and recommend foundation systems and pavement designs.

Update existing soils testing older than 5 years, with new borings intermediate to the old locations. With new, undeveloped sites, it is recommended to increase the number of test borings beyond the four corners and one to two intermediate borings typical to a soils report of minimum scope. Maintaining floor flatness for slabs on grade and minimizing cracking requires an understanding of soils conditions across a 170’ x 170 to 285’ proposed footprint. To avoid being over-conservative in foundation sizing, in soils replacement, or groundwater protections allow the geo-tech to take ample borings to allow for a firm judgment. A 40 to 60 foot boring grid across the site, in variable soils conditions, is considered minimum. Expect a minimum 100 foot grid in historically stable soils.

Soils analysis will reveal most potential problems with situating a recreation facility on a particular site. Typical recreation facility foundations require a drilled or driven pier and grade beam application.

Spread footings have a limited application to resist recreation facility loading, and would be confined to smaller one-story projections off the larger two story, open volumes.

Electrical system grounding and lightening protection grounding should be coordinated with the project geotechnical engineer.

Groundwater and runoff: The control of water flow around the site, site runoff and below grade ground water is critical to ensuring the long term viability of activity spaces that utilize special sports flooring. The technical guidelines point out that sports floor products are susceptible to failure in the presence of below grade moisture. Moisture contribution to concrete slabs on grade will warp wood floors and delaminate the adhesives in synthetic flooring. Properly installed vapor barriers beneath slabs can resolve most problems.

Caution: the presence of ground water within the frost depth of the foundation system typically warrants the use of a complete subsurface drainage system and/or the use of perimeter foundation drains. Loose or clayey soils will argue for piping all roof and site runoff into a controlled storm drainage system. Water flow across the recreation facility site from other properties will argue for foundation drains for the entire facility perimeter. Minimum recommendation for any soils conditions are: 1) foundation drain, and 2) minimize roof runoff onto grade. Pipe water away whenever possible.

Site drainage design must meet local agency requirements.

Building Design Criteria IV

Substandard soils: It is not uncommon for recreation facility slab-on-grade tolerances to require the removal and replacement of subsurface soils unable to reach proper compaction, offer the engineer reasonable confidence that compaction will be consistent, or provide adequate resistance to overall loads. One element often overlooked in judging the adequacy of soils is the ability of the construction crew to use heavy crane equipment, without risk to the stability of a prepared subbase.

Soils must be capable of resisting rutting and pumping while maintaining an optimum moisture content. All other elements being equal, the stability of the subbase to an adequate depth, and the consistency of the same over the whole area of the proposed slabs prevent the most common slab failure problems. Explain floor tolerance and moisture content requirements to the geo-technical engineer at the time of testing.

Potential actions to be taken to meet these criteria are, from least to most expensive:

1) straight compaction of existing soils, 2) amendment and “churning” of soils to a recommended depth followed by compaction of existing soils, 3) removal and replacement of defective soils to recommended depths.

Project engineer should reserve a contingency budget amount to anticipate some replacement of deficient soils. If soils are deficient throughout the site, drilled piers may extend further into the ground than anticipated. It is recommended that a reserve of an additional 20% of the estimated cost of drilled piers, be held against the cost of correcting unexpected soils conditions. If not used, the amount can revert to a general building contingency.

Rocky conditions are another category of deficiency in that drilled piers must find stable stone to rest upon if piers are not designed to resist loads via the friction of the entire surface area of the pier. Stone layers of uncertain thickness must be removed. A unit price per cubic yard for stone removal should be set at the beginning of the project. Soils testing cannot pinpoint all areas of unacceptable stone that would impede drilled piers. Rock removal is therefore by nature an unknown quantity. The best the engineer can do is anticipate the potential expense based on soils testing report and size the contingency fund accordingly. For any project of large scale, “getting out of the ground” is the most potentially trying part of the process. Awareness of the problems involved in any project, will help reduce after the fact finger-pointing.

Parking: It is difficult to determine the number of parking spaces required for a PFF. Based on the American College of Sports Medicine’s “Health/Fitness Facility Standards and Guidelines”, for initial parking calculations, assume 1 parking space for every 300 gross square feet of facility. This will provide adequate parking for all staff and approximately 60% of the maximum facility participants.

However, many factors may result in the adjustment of this number of parking spaces, either up or down. A parking needs survey needs to be conducted to determine a more accurate need for parking, and the number of parking spaces provided adjusted accordingly. This survey needs to consider the following aspects at a minimum:

1. Current parking available in close proximity to the PFF.

2. The number of spectators that can be accommodated in the gymnasium.

3. Proximity of the PFF to troop housing.

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4. Availability and use of public transportation.

5. The type of unit (administrative vs. training, etc.)

6. The amount of shift work.

Parking shall comply with ABA and Installation requirements.

Vehicular access is required to the Mechanical Room and the Storage Room serving the Fitness Module at a minimum.

B. General Systems Criteria

HVAC: Outside mechanical heating and cooling is not recommended.

Air movement should be controlled with use of a vestibule / airlock with two sets of entry doors

Mechanical System Noise Control: Noise from the building services should not interfere with the usage of the space. Noise criteria (NC) are a generally accepted, single number standard to determine what amount of sound can exist in a space and still allow full usage. The NC standards are subjective criteria but derived from multiple signal curves calculated along the entire audible range. The NC measure mechanical noise, and more specialized criteria for dampening specific sound frequencies require further engineering. NC standards simply establish how much sound can be contributed to a space before it becomes annoying and no longer falls within the accepted NC class for that usage.

To achieve the criteria at any level, follow these general guidelines:

Provide mass in the walls around mechanical equipment spaces.

Recommend concrete block masonry be used, whenever possible.

All ductwork shall sheet metal and be constructed for laminar airflow, in accordance with SMACNA guidelines. Minimum 2” thick insulation in all large ductwork, plenums, and fan casings. 1” minimum thickness elsewhere. Liner shall be an erosion resistant glass fiber duct lining. Minimum density should be 2.0 pcf.

Large ducts over 60” shall be subdivided into chambers with metal septums to avoid rumbling (oil canning) of the duct.

Flex duct is suitable for branch ductwork only. Flex duct leading to diffusers or grilles should be at least 5 feet in length and have one 90 degree bend before reaching the diffuser.

Select air handling units to minimize noise generation. Acoustically isolated enclosures and floor supports are common.