Fisher just wrapped up the core and shell of the Metro Theater at 2055 Union, aka the future home of Equinox. There were lots of moving parts, marketing VP Sydney Fisher Bernier tells us. The 11-month construction project involved building a new building within an existing shell of a building (say that five times fast). The historic nature of the former 1,200-seat theater meant the facade had to stay original, and Art Deco murals in the east and west walls of the building also had to be preserved. That added significant design and engineering challenges when it came to adding three floors, or 30k SF, within the envelope without tying into those muraled walls.
It's not the first project of its kind in the city; the former theater on Chestnut Street that is now a Walgreens also involved adding floors. What Equinox is going to do to Union Street is pretty huge; the site has sat vacant for nearly four years, and hopefully the gym will give the neighborhood a good shot in the arm. (Or at least help the residents build up some muscles.) Equinox's debut will also stir up some membership competition; Crunch sits just a few blocks away.
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