James Devlin Make It Real Gym Concept Design!

Hello! I am Joseph, a current high school sophomore interested in a career of design and engineering. This is my second ever Instructable, so let me know in the comments any tips and suggestions you have!

After reviewing the video provided in the contest description, I decided to link Mr. Devlin's ideas of working through hard situations with ideas that have helped me through difficult situations. Mr. Devlin talked about when forced into a hard positions, persistence and working through the struggle is what helped him get out of rough positions. For my gym concept, I added on to this by focusing on mental state and a sense of community.

Additionally, I aimed to make the gym germ friendly to prevent COVID spread as well as other sicknesses. Overall, I aimed to create a space that promoted mental and physical health that would facilitate improvement and working through challenges.

I wanted to design the main entrance of the gym to be open and inviting to all people interested in exercise. The entrance is open and gives a clear view of both the workout machines as well as the basketball court. The front desk is right in front of you as you walk in, and turning left or right determines whether you go to the weights or court. I aimed for the front desk to be the first thing you see so that staff can help new athletes be comfortable and familiar with the space before they start.

The open design of the entrance and workout areas is good for ample airflow and prevents the need for traffic coming in and out of the building. This means less risk for contamination or issues with safety when it comes to sickness. I aimed to use the openness to add to the welcoming feel of the gym.

As is common in many gyms and fitness centers, I added a basic basketball court. I did this for all the same reasons that they are found in other gyms. Having the availability to play a competitive game with others can motivate many to exercise more often. Additionally, playing basketball combines gaining endurance with building necessary teamwork skills. Having a basketball court is a necessary element of an effective workout environment as it adds a competitive and team based activity.

It wouldn't be a gym without weights and resistance machines! I wanted to focus on the community aspect by keeping different types of workouts in the same area. This promotes communication and togetherness when working out. I also limited the number of machines to limit traffic and crowds. Breathing heavily only increases the spread of germs, so fewer machines means less chances of germs spreading. I balanced this section of the gym so that we have enough machines to handle a good amount of people, but not enough to overwhelm people or have concerns about sickness.

This is a relatively simple element of the gym. I added entrances to the changing rooms on both sides of the gym to make sure they are super available. In the change rooms, there are ample lockers that members can use, and showers to freshen up before they leave the gym. By having these areas to keep their stuff secure and themselves clean, members will feel more welcome and invited into the community.

Running is a really important part of building endurance when working out. I wanted to add a major piece of the gym that is specifically devoted to using treadmills. The balcony is a circular lip that extends off of the massive spiral staircase. The area's goal is to let runners have a good view of many aspects of the building. 1/3 of the treadmill area can oversee the basketball court, where runners can observe games being played. Another 1/3 of the balcony oversees the machines and weights. The last section oversees the entrance as well as the windows out of the front of the gym. The treadmill allows for distance between the members to prevent risk of spreading germs, adding to the safety of the area.

The yoga area is focused on mental health and self care the most out of all the areas. I made this area on the roof of the building so that yoga sessions can be in an open air environment. By being outside, people can have a taste of nature during a very focused activity like yoga. I aimed for this to be a big part of the gym, as mental health and self care has a huge part in getting through a difficult challenge in life.

Mr. Devlin's focus for the gym was for it to be a place where people could go to work on physical and mental challenges. I believe that the atmosphere that my concept creates provides ample opportunity for people to become part of the athletic community in a safe and effective way.

Thank you to James Devlin for the opportunity to dabble for the first time in architectural CAD design, and I hope that you enjoyed my concept design. Thank you!