In any community, health, recreation, or professional athletic facility, the one common denominator is the locker facility. This is where people are most likely to be vulnerable and they expect a sense of comfort and privacy to facilitate their requirements. As opposed to historic interpretation, locker rooms are no longer designed to make the most out of the confined space but are instead made to serve more functionally, with an emphasis on personal space.
New trends and design layouts have started to incorporate innovative elements to ensure a surrounding of comfort and ease. Locker rooms can be some of the most expensive sections to build in comparison to other rooms. As a result, it is important to specify all the requirements and implement current trends to create an ideal design concept. This blog shall outline what a locker room is, why they are useful to invest in, as well as some considerations for your design concept.
What are locker rooms?
Lockers – a metal compartment that can be locked, usually in a public place for the safekeeping of clothing and valuables.
Locker rooms – a room with lockers.
Why are they useful/beneficial?
Storing of personal items and equipment
This is a crucial factor when organizing a working environment. Having your own personal space to store belongings will benefit employees and members by allowing them to secure their possessions, and to free up their person for whatever activity they are involved in, this allows users more headspace also, permitting them to work / workout more effectively.
Security
A plethora of workspaces have safe storage facilities such as drawers and cupboards. This is effective, unless there are multiple people sharing the same unit. In the event of this, the matter of privacy and security are likely to be an issue. Personal lockers accompanied with individual keys provide a solution to the security issue, as they are able to access their lockers without having to worry about them coming into contact with other people.
Creates a personal feeling
Lockers in a workspace environment could be highly influential on and indicative of an office’s culture. Using materials and colours on the locker doors can support a business in making a statement that depicts their brand and business culture in a cost-effective manner. In addition to this, with customizable options, staff may be able to personalize their lockers with identifying photos, making them feel as if they are noticed and appreciated.
Keeps the workspace free of clutter
As mentioned, lockers are highly effective instruments, in that they offer convenient spaces for users to store coats, bags, personal items, and activity equipment. As a result, it helps people to keep their workspaces tidy and organized. Moreover, having a section to place your items may make users more mindful of what commodities they bring into the venue.
What are some of the design considerations?
Locker Materials
There are a variety of locker materials available for you to customise and use for your establishment. Each material has its own benefits and function, which are better suited to some locker room types than others. For example, a wooden material locker would be suitable in a golf club, as they give users a luxury feel, whereas a poolside changing room would need a locker made out of waterproof materials, so that it is better resistant to mold.
Locks
Alike locker materials, the locking hardware chosen for lockers is also highly dependent on the clientele, and the function of your changing room layout design themselves. For recreation centers, hasp locks would be a good option, as they are cheap and simple to use, allowing users to bring them in themselves. Hasp locks provide an impression of casualness, whilst also giving users the freedom to use and invest in higher quality locks if they wish.
It is also an option to use key lockers, which empower users with a sense of trust. They are simpler to use, so can be used by the general public with higher degrees of ease. That being said, the venue may need to accommodate for space on the front desk to allow space for the storage of keys. It also requires more of the receptionist’s time and coordination, with the possibility of having to replace keys often if they get lost or stolen.
One of the best locks to use is the electronic type of lock that mimics the safe locks in hotel rooms. Members enter their own code to lock and unlock their lockers. This would be easier to access by the venue, should members forget their code. These locks are suitable for a variety of venues and last a long time, yet can be much more expensive as a result.
Circulation
Changing room layout designs are essential for keeping the movement of members to, from, and within the locker room with comfort and ease. The central circulation path should accommodate for enough room to allow two people to walk side by side. Dry locker areas should be easy to access, but somewhat private so members do not feel over-exposed while changing. It is ideal to have a locker room layout with wet and dry vanities, as well as showers, in a central location, so that users can move from wet to dry areas easily.
Showers
The wet area of a locker room requires tiles and materials that are moister resistant. For safety, it is advised that the tiles have a slip-resistant texture, with small tiles and more grout joints. Small tiles allow for more design options, such as colour and patterns on the walls and floor, yet also incur more maintenance and cost.
All materials used in wet areas must be considered carefully in order to withstand the level of moisture in such places. Showers must be made of durable materials and waterproof membranes that will withstand heavy usage at peak hours. The airflow of the construction is important also and should be designed to pull the wet, moist air from the locker rooms. This shall alternatively provide members with more comfort and allow materials and finishes to last longer.
Staples and amenities
Locker room amenities vary greatly depending on the type of membership and available space that the changing room layout design allows. There are countless ways in which you can upgrade whirlpools, saunas and steam rooms that will attract members. Some locker rooms even include tanning rooms, private changing rooms, bespoke lockers, massage rooms and much more.
Lighting
The lighting features of your changing room layout design should be able to create ambience, and be adequate for the space. Lighting can be highly functional, as providing side lighting at the vanity stations can create fewer dark shadows on the face, which would assist with shaving and putting on make-up. Lights above lockers can provide good light for circulating through the space. Certain lights are listed for damp and wet locations, yet their quality and price may be reflective of this, as well as the construction and materials used.
Conclusions
Whether it be big or small locker room designs, a football locker room design layout, or a locker room design layout for a whole host of other functions, it is clear that lockers are an essential investment for any establishment. Not only do they provide security and storage for staff and users, but they also help to create a personal feeling, and improve the cleanliness of a workspace. In order to access the full potential of benefits provided by locker rooms, it is advised that you consider the locker material, the lock, room circulation, showers, staples and amenities, and lighting.
As highlighted above, there is a culmination of factors to consider when designing your locker rooms. It is therefore advised that you consult a professional in order to ensure your design is as effective and efficient as possible. There are numerous locker room consultants across the West Midlands, such as ArkInstall.