McFit Padua

A new light shines on fitness

McFit, one of the chief fitness centre chains that is experiencing considerable success in Italy, has opened a brand-new location in Padua within a building that has been completely restructured. The area of the city in which the new McFit is found, which has also undergone major redevelopment, is high-traffic, replete with offices, shops and even prestigious private abodes with historic residences. Indeed, the road in front of the centre is one of the main arteries of Padua and connects to Prato della Valle, the largest pizza in the city and the fifth largest square in Europe.

The building in which the new McFit centre headquarters is located was completely demolished and rebuilt. This made it possible not only to design the layout of the various environments from scratch, optimising the spaces in line with anti-Covid provisions, but also gave way to paying great attention to the lighting design project, which is essential for shining light on the well-being of gym-goers. A mix of professional Linea Light Group products was utilised both inside the various rooms and in the outdoor area reserved for parking and the pathways leading to the building. For example, there is the Optiwall, the wall light installed alongside the pedestrian accessway to signal the entrance to the centre, availing of OptiLight technology and guaranteeing very soft general lighting. Then there are the Prolamp floodlights, used to illuminate the driveways and the parking area. Finally, there is the Sub, the immersion spotlight utilised here to illuminate the pedestrian walkway at the back of the building. Installed on the ground, low down and close to a partition wall, it not only enhances the wall but also illuminates the pedestrian area thanks to the reflected light.

In particular, it is the indoor lighting project that sees smart use being made of the solutions developed by Linea Light Group with the aim of giving each environment a precise connotation based on the intended use: fitness, cardio, free weights, functional training, and so on. Because proper lighting is the basis of the psycho-physical well-being of each individual.Starting from the entrance, the reception area was lit with the Entourage suspension lamp. Its characteristic archetypal dome was customised in the same shade as the ceilings and machinery to integrate perfectly with the industrial style of the environment. The Periskop RGB projector, usually used in outdoor environments to enhance individual elements, was used indoors for this centre, specifically in the cardio and power rooms in the red colour variation. Also in the cardio room, so as to highlight the exercise bikes and treadmills, the Tu_O suspension lights were chosen, as real luminous sculptures with simple lines, fitted on the ceiling horizontally. In the vertical version, rather, Tu_V fixtures were installed in the stairwell reserved for visitors, connecting the ground floor to the first floor.

The most utilised product present in all training rooms is the Optus_T track projector in the dimmable version, particularly appreciated (indeed, 155 pieces were used!) for its unfussy shapes and small size, as well as for the bright, clean and precise emission of light. Its versatility and the possibility of combining various types of LEDs, interchangeable optics and accessories for controlling emission and glare have meant it is the most capable solution, able to highlight walls and enhance individual elements.

So as to add a touch of vintage design to the functional area in which “free” exercises are practiced, the Lampiatta suspension lights from the Stilnovo brand were chosen, opting for the larger version with a diameter of 50 centimetres. In addition, for visual comfort when performing exercises on the ground, a chromed light bulb was fitted to avoid annoying glaring effects.

Finally, in the power area and in the class and spinning room is a custom version of the LV54_RS recessed spotlight with diffused optics, created specifically for McFit centres. This fixture is equipped with a special steel hanger and track adapter, which also contains the power supply for operation of the light.

Great attention was likewise paid to the service areas, including the stairs, changing rooms and bathrooms. For example, to illuminate the stairwells and landings, there are respectively the Alix – a watertight fixture that also guarantees energy savings and a longer life – and the Switch – a wall lamp with a decorative design.For the bathrooms and showers, Cob44_RJ fixtures were chosen, as adjustable spotlights with a round structure that encloses an optical compartment in reflective aluminium from which a truly high-quality light beam flows, guaranteed by the source with LED Array. In the changing rooms, rather, the flexible and versatile Ribbon Plus LED strips were chosen to illuminate the lockers.

Credits:

Lighting Project: Teclight

Photo: RSG Group Italia

Products: Optiwall, Prolamp, Sub, Entourage, Periskop RGB, Tu_O and Tu_V, Optus_T, Lampiatta (Stilnovo), LV54_RS in a custom version, Alix, Switch, Cob44_RJ and Ribbon Plus

Year: 2021