The West Main Street Preservation District of Louisville, Kentucky has undergone a soulful reimagining at the hand of IA Interior Architects. Now home to holistic wellness experience Wel at Humana, the design “nods to the past while looking to the future,” says Adrienne Harbarger, senior designer at IA’s Chicago office.
Indeed, the firm partnered with the local Historic Preservation Society to accentuate the historic appeal of the vintage façade, adding new exterior lights and a fresh paint job. That inviting feel continues inside, starting at the lobby and reception area, where modern and vintage elements pervade the 29,000-square-foot facility. The industrial aesthetic allows original architectural details like iron beams and brick walls to shine while amplifying new contemporary touches including wood planks and a vibrant palette of plum, navy, and pops of Humana’s signature green.
“Authenticity, inclusiveness, and innovation were primary themes,” Harbarger says. “Humana wanted to attract and inspire participants at all levels of interest in fitness.” Take the encouraging graphics that adorn the gym’s ceiling, telling members, “You’ll Thank Yourselves Later” or the LED panels that adorn the historic brick backdrop along the raw steel-clad staircase. Here, guests are inspired to “Find Your Fit.”
Further, the entire lower level had to be excavated an additional two feet to accommodate new locker rooms, which are outfitted with wood elements that “contrast the white [tiles] with a warmer tone and keep the locker rooms from feeling too stark,” she says. “While all of the finishes were selected to align with our aesthetic vision, they were also carefully selected with durability and cleanability in mind.”
Another important consideration of the design is a layout reflective of an understanding that exercise is a personal journey. From laidback meditation and yoga rooms to high-energy CrossFit areas, Wel at Humana ensures the goals of each individual member will always be met. “For the community,” Harbanger points out, “we wanted to provide a state-of-the-art facility that broke down the stigma that fitness had to be intimidating.”
Photography by Tom Harris
