LOCAL LOOK – WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOU
Gymnasiums are an excellent use case for steel buildings. The requirements of large, spanning indoor volumes and adequate space for the storage of specialized equipment lend themselves well to the many advantages that steel buildings provide.
CrossFit can be thought of as a kind of ‘niche’ gymnasium. In Los Angeles, the CrossFit boom is in full effect, and consumers are flocking by the thousands to these high-intensity, high-speed training facilities. For those looking to start a new CrossFit gym, there’s a lot to consider in finding or building the ideal facility.
CrossFit ‘boxes’ are popping up across the country. Will the LA trend spread to your neck of the woods?
So, you want to build a CrossFit gym (also called a ‘box’) in Los Angeles, do you?
You have a lot of planning to do. Even if you have the necessary capital and you’ve met the CrossFit licensing requirements, there’s a lot riding on your decision of exactly where your CrossFit gym is going to be located.
Because so many Capital Steel Buildings are built to be used as gymnasiums, we know a thing or two about how to select the perfect spot. CrossFit gyms, in particular, require a lot of square footage to house their numerous workout equipment stations. Kettlebell racks, deadlift stations, pullup bars, and sprinting areas all need copious amounts of open space within the building.
Capital Steel Buildings meet these needs perfectly by allowing for a partitionless interior space that can be 100% customized to suit the unique needs of CrossFit box owners.
Also, because a CrossFit business’ profitability is so closely tied to its growing membership, interior space needs to be adequate enough to conduct group sessions.
THREE OPTIONS: BUILD, BUY, OR LEASE
If you’re considering the financial implications of starting a CrossFit gym in Los Angeles, you’ve probably already looked for available warehouse space. This is a great first step, and it’s often the only option available to those who are on a tight budget. Leasing warehouse space is, in fact, the least expensive option available to prospective CrossFit gym owners.
As of 2018, the average cost-per-square-foot for leasing commercial space in the Los Angeles region was $36.18, just three dollars higher than the average US index.
But what about buying?
If you have the financial latitude to buy a suitable gymnasium, you should. The reason is that owning equity in commercial property will be an asset that you can leverage if you ever have a future need for business funding.
Buying an existing warehouse space and then repurposing it as a CrossFit gym is a fantastic option, but it’s not the best option when long-term goals are taken into consideration.
If you have the financial latitude to buy a suitable gymnasium, you should. The reason is that owning equity in commercial property will be an asset that you can leverage if you ever have a future need for business funding.
Buying an existing warehouse space and then repurposing it as a CrossFit gym is a fantastic option, but it’s not the best option when long-term goals are taken into consideration.
CHOOSING THE BUILD-TO-SUIT OPTION
The best possible option available to new CrossFit gym owners is going to be building a special-purpose gymnasium that is 100% customized to integrate the ideal layout for the business.
The perfect CrossFit box floor plan may include a front-end space that can be used for membership consultations and retail operations (gotta sell those duffel bags and pre-workout drinks!), as well as designated workout areas complete with punching bags, tractor tires, and Olympic ring stations.
Here’s a fantastic example of how a CrossFit floor plan makes ideal use of the copious interior space that an open-plan steel building provides. The steel building used in this example is an I-beam steel building, one of the strongest and longest-lasting steel buildings on the market today.
Other steel building options available to CrossFit gym owners include VersaTube and C-Channel steel buildings, each of which has its own list of pros and cons.
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
If you do decide to build a new CrossFit gym, and you’ve decided to select either an I-beam, VersaTube, or C-Channel steel building, the next decision to make is where you’re going to build.
This presents a complex challenge, as the region of Los Angeles is massive. Development costs are going to vary widely, depending on whether you choose to build closer to the downtown area or farther away in a place like Burbank or San Fernando, as an example.
You’re going to want to find enough land that is suitable for commercial development while also keeping the overall costs within your budget. This search is likely to take some time, so be patient and exhaust all of your resources—and, if you haven’t already, consider partnering with a commercial real estate developer who can guide you during this process.
Remember that the most successful CrossFit gyms in Los Angeles have a bold, striking exterior appearance, as CrossFit itself is a bold, intense physical discipline. Try to find a location that has a fair amount of exposure to a well-trafficked part of LA, keeping in mind the fact that much of your business is likely to come from passers-by who see your front door and get curious.
Lastly, it’s worth reminding you that Capital Steel Industries is available to work with you to design the optimal California steel building layout that best suits your vision for creating a successful, profitable CrossFit gym in Los Angeles. Good luck!
