OBJECTIVES
To build a first class strength and conditioning land training facility befitting LRC to assist in attracting high calibre club oarsmen and oarswomen to represent LRC racing at the highest competitive level.
To offer members and athletes of all ages an environment with the best opportunities for improving their physical abilities.
To use the new gym and released function space upstairs to create a revenue stream to assist and support LRC’s financial position and future.
SUMMARY UPDATE
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Selection and appointment of Gym Build Sub Committee (detailed at end).
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Secured and raised c£280,000 - sufficient to build the new gym, men’s changing room and showers but not sufficient to cover cost of fitting out with new equipment. Until additional funds are raised existing gym equipment, including ergos, watt bikes and weights, and existing lockers and benches for men’s changing, will need to be reused.
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Planning permission obtained, structural design and external and internal architectural design completed.
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Build tendered to three contractors, shortlisted to two.
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Aim to complete the tender process and start works in July post Henley to ensure squad focus remains on racing with completion September/October 2017.
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Arrangements for changing during the summer currently being made with local clubs.
DETAILED UPDATE
Your Gym Build subcommittee was appointed and has been working hard on the project and can report the following progress:
Layout of the New Space
Complete redevelopment of the whole area behind the entrance to the men's changing room (i.e. the whole of the area occupied currently by the existing men’s changing room, tank and gym).
The full ground level will be used for the new gym facilities.
The existing rowing tank will be left in situ and covered with a false floor.
A new first floor level will be added for new men’s changing facilities.
Access to the men’s changing rooms will be via the internal stairs which lead currently to the women’s changing room.
The new gym will have a separate access and will be well insulated, heated and dry.
With the basics in place we will be able to invest in high quality training equipment without fear it will deteriorate because of the conditions.
The Past Six Months.…Planning and Preparation
Since July 2016, your Gym Subcommittee has worked hard to plan and prepare for the project with the key aims of ensuring we have a tight specification and the right contract with the right builder at the right price. To achieve this we have:
1) Questioned, clarified, developed and refined the architect’s drawings
2) Worked with our structural engineers Fothergill and Co. to develop and finalise the structural drawings
3) Prepared detailed specifications
4) Engaged with three contractors
5) Prepared a request for best and final offers from two shortlisted contractors.
Progress has been steady and has enabled us to ensure that the Club spends its members’ money to best effect. We now believe we are in a position to move forward with the first phase of work.Schedule / Timing
We are currently in the process of going back to two preferred contractors to secure their best and final offers for the works based on updated architectural and engineering drawings as well as a detailed specification. We expect to be in a position to award a contract by the end of May.
The exact start date on site will be agreed with the successful tenderer during our final contract negotiations. We are hoping for a start date following Henley and we are aiming for completion ready for the start of the next season. We will keep everyone updated.
The major disruption during the build period has been planned to coincide with the summer months when the requirement for land based strength and conditioning work is less and when the level of rowing activity at the club is at its lowest. For efficiency in both time and money we will hand the site over to the contractor giving the contractor free access to get on with the work. This will leave us without a gym, men’s changing room and men’s showers. Nonetheless our rowing programme will continue.
We are currently making arrangements to be able to use changing facilities at adjacent clubs and will find space in LRC to house ergometers and some weights. Further details will be provided nearer to the time.
Those with lockers will be offered a refund for the duration of limited availability – there will of course be the option to maintain your subscription donating to gym funds.
Funding Position
This is important. We have raised a significant amount but still have more to do.
To date, we have raised c£280,000.
This includes a very generous bequest from our former President Peter Coni OBE of £90,000, and a very generous grant from the Fairbairn Trust of £75,000, secured thanks to our President, Mike Baldwin, to whom we are very grateful.
The balance has been raised through generous member donations for which the club is very grateful indeed, and from fundraising events including LRC's Olympians Dinner and Auction, Great London Row 2016 and Quiz Nights.
The funds raised to date are sufficient to build the new gym, men’s changing room and showers but until additional funds are raised we would need to use the existing gym equipment including ergos, watt bikes and weights and the existing lockers and benches.
Our ability to complete the project with the standard of fit out and new equipment that we would like to deliver to our current and future members remains dependant on our topping up funding.
We are able to start the structural works and basic fit out with our current secured funds. We will not yet, however, be able to complete the fit out to the level we would wish and equip the gym with the best in class equipment identified.
By raising funds for the capital works and controlling our costs we are seeking to avoid taking out any loans which would require interest payments to be met for years to come.
The VAT position has been investigated and VAT will be payable on the works.What Can I Do To Help?
Thank you for asking...there is still plenty to do and we can all support the project in various ways. Here are a few suggestions. Please do whatever you can.
1) Give generously to the Appeal Fund
2) Support the range of activities being run by the Fund Raising
3) Support the Working Groups which will be required to clear out the changing rooms, gym and tank room ahead of the contract works
4) Encourage your crewmates past and present to support the Club to deliver this transformational development.
A Gym Build Sub Committee has been formed and we are hugely grateful to the following for stepping forward and for their hard work on the project. The subcommittee has a range of relevant professional expertise:
Tim Grant
(House Steward and member of executive committee)
Simon Harris
(Former Captain)
Eddie Markes
(Irregulars and member of main committee)
Phillip Carre
(Irregulars)
Paul Wilcox
(involved in original LRC gym fit out)
Matt Cummings
(Present Captain and member of executive committee)
Luis Orozco
(Current squad)
Jason Gray
(Club Treasurer and member of executive committee)
Please feel free to contact any members of your gym subcommittee should you wish to learn more about the plans for our new gym.
The Best Use of Our Space Going Forward
We will move all ergometers, watt bikes and other training paraphernalia from the upstairs Crew room into the new gym and return the Crew room to its original purpose, for which it has hardly been used. The original purpose of the Crew room was to offer additional social facilities and the ability to hire out this area (as we do successfully with the Long Room, Fairbairn Room and Members' Room) to help generate revenue. Those who generously contributed to that build will be pleased to see it re-instated for that use.
Our new gym space will lend itself to additional revenue opportunities. It will be appealing for occasional, non conflicting rental to specially selected partners or schools, thereby contributing to its running costs in future years.
