An iconic mountain, an historic bank, the pattern created by the swing of a racquet and an existing pallet of forms and materials embodying subtle overtones of contemporary Mexican architecture help to give form to and inspire the character of a dynamic health club renovation.

Located at the base of Camelback Mountain, across from the beloved Chase Bank on 44th and Camelback roads with its whimsical organic curvilinear motif, sat a tired Mexican restaurant and an equally tired health and racquet club tucked behind it. Barely visible from the main road, the health club was in serious need of updating and expanding its services to compete in an ever challenging hyper competitive marketplace.

The ambitious scope faced by the design-build team included repurposing an existing restaurant, melding it with an existing health club, relocating offices and a day spa, expanding it's health and wellness venues, enlarging existing locker room facilities, bringing order to a somewhat chaotic group of existing function spaces - the result of years of expansions without the benefit of a comprehensive master plan, re-imaging the entire property and establishing a visual presence along the well traveled Camelback Corridor. All this was to result in a singular structure, spanning across two properties of separate ownership and remaining open for business 7 days a week through the duration of construction.

The resulting design includes a dynamic roof form reaching towards the mountain view and a well-disposed feature wall stitching the old facility to the new, extending through the interior of the club to the outside, defining the front entry court and establishing a strong sense of entry. A curved wall carves through the site and building like the swing of a racquet, embracing the stadium tennis court and accompanying club members in to the light filled entry hall. A varying rhythm of wall openings, based on the acceleration of a racquet swing provides glimpses to the outside activities and mountain views beyond. A pallet of brilliant colors, contrasting textures and natural materials reinforce the high-energy mission of this facility.