How the Pandemic is Influencing Health, Exercise and Wellbeing in Residential Buildings

The Macro Picture

The pandemic has had a profound effect on people. It has brought into sharp focus mortality, health, and wellbeing. It has finally made us wake up to climate change and to be more wary of known unknowns. Above all, Covid-19 has shown that humans might not always be in control, an unsettling and new realisation for many. 

The pandemic coincided with social unrest too, racism, discrimination, inequality, and waning trust in politicians. We are still emerging into a new world but there is high energy behind change for the better. 

For health, exercise, and wellbeing, there has been a shift in the public perception. More people than ever are aware of the importance of exercise and being fit to fight this virus and the next, but people’s choice of how and where to exercise is in flux. The changing trends in mainstream exercise need to influence operational practice and design in residential buildings.  

A Fast-Changing Consumer Landscape

When the first lockdown hit back in March 2020, there was a rapid pivot to digital exercise. Prohibited from going out, people exercised in their living rooms and bedrooms. Everyone was talking about digital, now everyone is talking about meeting up, community and mental health. Digital, which soared during the first lockdown went from being the number 26 trend at the start of 2020, to the number 1 trend for 2021, and has now dropped to the number 9 spot for 2022*. During lockdown we became obsessed with virtual technology to connect us to friends and to exercise. It was a novelty at first, but enough is enough, and the thought of a Zoom social or digital exercise session in the living room has worn thin for most.  

Designing For the Future in Residential Buildings 

To accommodate future changes in user density, overcrowding and social distancing, spaces should have in-built flexibility. Designers should not overcrowd their gym floors with high volumes of fixed gym equipment, but rather ensure there is lots of space given over to smaller interchangeable items, that make it easier to adapt to trends. Use purpose designed partitioning to expand and contract spaces to accommodate “accordion” resident population changes. 

Sustainability is linked to wellbeing. Resident wants to see and know that design has considered the environment and climate change.

Nature, fresh air, and greenery need to be integrated. Designers should bridge the gap between nature, exercise, and wellbeing to create seamless indoor and outdoor spaces. Sometimes described as “mid-door”, create wellness spaces with a mid-door area for flexible use such as group exercise, outdoor socialising, coffee, relaxed workstation provision, and even small meetings. No more gyms in the basement please!

Access to fresh air or at least the highest-grade indoor air quality management and monitoring system. An optimised heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system (HVAC) is essential.    

Get technology right. Digital is still the future. Exercise services and gym equipment need robust connectivity, just like all aspects of our lives.

Operating for Change

Existing buildings cannot afford to deliver a dated fitness offering. The fitness sector evolves fast so future proofing is important. Your operator needs to demonstrate a passion for wellbeing and a vison for the immediate future. Wearable technology, outdoor exercise activities and strength training are among the trends expected to shape the worldwide fitness industry during 2022**. Residential operators need to align themselves with these changing trends and be agile.

Post Covid, operators need to manage for increased social interaction. Operators should develop an extended group exercise programme, manage an imaginative resident events programme that promotes social interaction, and bolster personal training programmes, because even one to one interaction counts. 

Above all high levels of customer service will still drive success metrics but that service needs to relate to the big social issues. If operators cannot demonstrate authenticity around their views on equity, diversity, climate change and sustainability, customer service will feel hollow, and residents will call them out.  

* ULI and PWC “Emerging Trends in Real Estate 2021”
**ACSM’s Health & Fitness Journal worldwide survey published January 2022

Andy Kay, Director, Educated Body (a trading name of Raw Corporate Health Ltd)