'Super gym' shapes as fitness-buff paradise

Neil Properties, at 8 Nugent St, which will be the new home for BodyTech's Mt Eden gym. Photo / Supplied

Premium health and fitness brand, BodyTech, is to relocate its flagship Mt Eden gym 200 metres away from its existing Normanby Rd site to Neil Properties' new building at 8 Nugent St, Mt Eden.

The new "super gym" facility, to be known as BodyTech Concept III, is scheduled to open this spring and will take 1297sq m of space within the mixed-use complex on a 15-year lease negotiated by Scott Kirk and James Were of Bayleys Auckland.

Kirk says the lease includes up to 200 parking spaces, more than double the amount available to members at the existing site.

BodyTech's director, Peter Rana, says the new, purpose-built space has enabled a world-class complex to be designed boasting features and facilities members indicated they valued most.

Rana says BodyTech Concept III will encompass equipment upgrades featuring state-of-the-art technology and facility enhancements that include changing rooms with underfloor heating and professionally lit make-up counters, a designer breakfast bar serving complimentary breakfasts, and a lounge with internet facilities. In addition to a substantial new gymnasium, the complex will contain a heated swimming pool and steam and sauna rooms.

Neil Properties completed the first and largest stage of a three-stage redevelopment of the Nugent Street site last year. This created about 8500sq m of mixed-use space in two buildings, plus basement car parking for a third building which will be developed in stage two of the project.

Tenants occupying office space include Digital Island, charitable organisation Wise Group and Neil Group, which has relocated its head office to the complex.

BodyTech has taken all of the ground-floor space in the new building developed on the site and another 473sq m of space is in another refurbished existing building which is being marketed to convenience and hospitality retailers. The ground levels of both buildings spill out into a pedestrian-friendly plaza.

Stage one of the 8 Nugent development has received a Green Star NZ Certified Office Design 4 Rating. The building's green features include minimisation and recycling of water use and waste, a dedicated refuse building, cycle racks, provision of 50 per cent more fresh air than the building code requires, and environmentally friendly air-conditioning and lighting.

Keith Maddison, Neil Properties' senior development manager, says the next stage, which will be subject to tenant pre-commitment, will encompass 6500sq m of showroom and office space in the third building and the conversion of the upper floors of the existing building into 53 apartments.