Germantown Athletic Club undergoes renovations

The Germantown Athletic Club is undergoing a renovation and modernization effort that will help it continue to compete in a growing health and fitness marketplace.

The City of Germantown filed a $1.4 million building permit Oct. 26 for demo and renovations for the facility at 1801 Exeter Road.

The center is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. It opened as the Germantown Center, but changed its name in 2008 as it became a self-sustaining facility with no burden on the city’s taxpayers.

“We’re an aging facility,” said Phil Rogers, Director of Germantown Athletic Club. “This building was state of the art in 1990 and now it’s 2015. This is to bring us up to be state of the art and keep us current with fitness trends.”

This project is the first year of what will be a multiphase renovation. This phase will improve and enlarge the childcare facility and rebuild the spin room and mind and body studio.

The work won’t add more square footage; rather, it’s a reallocation of space within the club itself to cater more to the greater need for group programming.

There is an abundance of health and fitness clubs in the marketplace. While it’s owned by the city, Germantown Athletic Club sees about 40 percent of its members come from outside the city. Rogers said the club recognizes it must remain competitive.

“You have to be a destination,” he said. “People have to want to come to us. The dumbbells are just as heavy and the pool is just as wet down the street. We have a sense of community.”

Future phases will include taking one of three basketball courts and turning it into new group fitness space. Additional cardio space and work on the locker rooms are also in future plans.