I’m honored to announce that my recent gym design project for the Four Seasons Hualalai was recognized by Women’s Health magazine with the prestigious 2024 Women’s Health Travel Award.
A lot of people have asked me what goes into an award-winning facility design, so I’m taking this opportunity to unpack some of the thought process that went into the Four Seasons Hualalai.
It all starts with my philosophy on facility experience… where environment, function, aesthetic, and the user experience are integrated seamlessly.The recent project I led at Hualalai embodies this philosophy, balancing cutting-edge fitness innovation with thoughtful design, tailored to the needs of an active and discerning clientele.
The Hualalai fitness center is not just a gym—it’s a meticulously designed ecosystem. Comprising six distinct workout zones, each space is engineered to serve a specific function, whether it's strength training, cardiovascular fitness, group activities, or outdoor movement. By segmenting the facility into specialized areas, we create a sense of purpose, minimize noise disruptions, and offer a more personalized workout experience.
The spaces include:
In addition, there’s a fitness lap pool, basketball court, and tennis courts. This separation of modalities is intentional—different types of physical activity require specific environments to maximize effectiveness. Rather than forcing multiple disciplines into a single space, which can lead to overcrowding and compromised experiences, we’ve strategically distributed activities across the property. This allows users to engage in focused, uninterrupted workouts, free from the sensory overload that often plagues traditional gym spaces.
A gym’s design must also cater to its clientele, and in the case of Hualalai, the guests are highly active individuals for whom fitness is integral to their lifestyle. A significant challenge we overcame was creating spaces that appealed to both seasoned athletes and casual exercisers. By designing discrete workout areas, we ensured that each guest could engage in their preferred modality without feeling overwhelmed or intimidated by more advanced users.
The indoor strength room serves as a prime example. At its center is a custom-designed motion cage, which acts as a hub for functional training. Surrounding it is an assortment of Hoist strength equipment, barbells, dumbbells, and kettlebells—equipment selected not just for variety, but for its ability to support both progressive resistance training and functional movement exercises. The layout of the room allows for intuitive movement flow, ensuring that users can transition from one piece of equipment to the next without unnecessary interruptions or congestion.
Cardio training is a critical component of any fitness program, and at Hualalai, we wanted to create a space that offered best-in-class equipment while optimizing user comfort. The indoor cardio room features top-tier Woodway treadmills and Life Fitness ellipticals, arc trainers, step mills, and bikes, as well as a selection of spin bikes. Each piece of equipment is carefully positioned to maximize space and maintain a balance between proximity and privacy.
The outdoor covered cardio space, meanwhile, caters to those who prefer to train with fresh air and natural light. This zone offers non-motorized cardio equipment, allowing guests to engage in more dynamic, self-paced workouts that differ from traditional indoor cardio regimens. The juxtaposition of indoor and outdoor spaces offers variety, enhancing user engagement and motivation.
Group fitness continues to grow in popularity, and our indoor group fitness room is designed to support both individual training sessions and dynamic group classes. Custom-built storage towers house an array of fitness tools, from resistance bands to kettlebells, and TRX straps are suspended from above, providing a versatile, flexible training environment.
The outdoor movement deck, another standout feature, provides a dedicated space for activities that demand more room and fresh air. Whether it’s yoga, dynamic stretching, or bodyweight exercises, this area encourages users to break free from the confines of indoor spaces while still benefiting from expert-led instruction and carefully curated equipment.
The psychology of gym design is often overlooked, but at Hualalai, it was integral to our process. A gym space should not intimidate; it should invite users to engage with their fitness journey confidently. One of the key considerations was how to create a luxurious yet accessible environment. For example, the strength room features matte black frames with wheat-colored upholstery—a stark yet sophisticated contrast to the more common black-on-black color scheme seen in many gyms. This touch of luxury not only elevates the aesthetic appeal but also provides a psychological boost, reinforcing a sense of comfort and exclusivity.
Additionally, we avoided cramming multiple modalities into a single space, a common mistake in gym design that leads to sensory overload. By dividing the facility into discrete areas, we foster a sense of privacy and ownership for users, reducing the intimidation factor that can accompany large, open spaces filled with equipment.
The success of this project was made possible through a collaborative process with Charlie, the Property Manager, and Amanda, the Spa Director. Their willingness to embrace innovation, balanced with familiarity, was crucial. One of the challenges we faced was the fear that innovation would alienate users. By integrating familiar equipment and design elements with more progressive features—such as the outdoor strength area, which includes Olympic weightlifting equipment and heavy punching bags—we struck a balance that caters to both traditionalists and those seeking novel experiences.
The outdoor strength area, in particular, stands out for its dynamic training possibilities. Here, guests can engage in sports-centric exercises using sleds, Olympic lifting equipment, and even heavy punching bags. This space embodies the idea that fitness is not one-size-fits-all but should adapt to the individual needs and preferences of each user.
Ultimately, the Four Seasons Hualalai fitness center won the 2024 Women’s Health Award for Best Gym Design because of its attention to detail in both form and function, while catering to the specific target audience and their lifestyle. The quantity and quality of the spaces, the cutting-edge equipment, and the carefully considered aesthetic combine to create a best-in-class experience.
We didn’t just build a gym; we created a fitness destination that empowers users to take control of their health and well-being in a luxurious, supportive environment. Whether it’s the custom-designed motion cage, the outdoor movement deck, or the cardio rooms, every element of this facility is designed to enhance the user experience while promoting long-term fitness engagement.
In the end, this project is a testament to what can be achieved when aesthetics, functionality, and user experience are prioritized in equal measure. The result is a gym that doesn’t just meet the needs of its users—it exceeds them.