By Luke Halls

Gyms in LA are a dime a dozen, however a new outpost is causing quite the stir in West Hollywood. Direct from New York comes the second US location from Dogpound, the internationally recognised fitness brand helmed by personal trainer Kirk Myers.

The latest outlet from Myers follows the same formula as its big NYC brother – monochromatic black interiors and workout equipment – however, the Los Angeles location extends the floorplan to a hefty 5,500 sq ft. The trainer tapped New York-based architecture firm GDSNY to design the space, calling on Michael Kirchmann – a Dogpound member – to lead the project.

‘Aside from its obviously strategic location in West Hollywood, the building itself was a standalone pavilion,’ explains the architect, ‘which allowed us to design the building exterior as well as the interiors.’ Myers’ approach to training instruction has long revolved around personalisation, so Kirchmann quickly set-to putting together a floorplan to match.

‘Part of the ethos of the Dogpound is the organic creativity of the people who use the space every day – the creative use of equipment, new training techniques and methodologies, and other personality-driven experiments that will shape the design on a daily basis,’ continues Kirchmann. ‘We encourage this and wanted to make a design that would both facilitate and be responsive to this creative process.’

A reception and community space at the entrance leads to the industrial main training room, an expansive space with a 20 ft vaulted ceiling and large skylights. The gym’s primary training equipment is housed here, as well as a boxing ring bearing the Fabien Baron-designed Dogpound logo. Beyond this room, a set of garage doors opens to reveal a covered courtyard, supplemented with aviation-sized fans, skylights, a sled and a sprint course. ‘The evolution of the spaces is the ethos of the Dogpound and will be a product of trainers and clients and their personalities,’ Kirchmann muses.

As well as featuring Dogpound’s largest selection of gym equipment, the Los Angeles outpost affords Myers the opportunity to try new things. A new retail storefront will display the brand’s up-and-coming apparel collection, while New York art dealer Vito Schnabel will curate an on-site visual art program.