Local entrepreneurs Vanessa Jahnke and Carl Nystrom open their first Lark Lagree & Social Wellness Club in downtown Penticton in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley in mid-April. The 3800 square foot street front location on Main St is equipped with ten Lagree Megaformers that provide low-impact, high-intensity full-body workouts, a complimentary coffee and tea bar, athleisure apparel, custom-tile showers, a hair station loaded with essentials, two social lounges, and a private infrared sauna suite with an array of amenities. “As longtime gym owners, we wanted Lark to reflect a calm, grounded environment where people have space to connect, move together, and feel part of a supportive community,” the owners said. The nature-inspired fitness studio was designed to reflect the quality of the land in the Okanagan Valley and features locally sourced furnishings, architectural lighting, a palette of tactile materials, and access to natural light and fresh air that breathe with the unique surroundings. The owners retained the Texas-based fitness design specialty firm Barbara Chancey Design Group to bring their vision to life. “By creating an original brand and challenging what has been accepted in fitness, we wanted to connect with the local community with a purpose-built space that was generous, tactile, and delivered a sense of care and quality,” explained Ms Chancey. Operating since about 2007, Barbara Chancey Design Group is an internationally recognized fitness design specialist that provides expertise in startup planning, branding, architecture, interior design, and operations.
Barbara Chancey Design Group – Dallas, Texas (800/680-5746 www.barbarachanceydesign.com)
Lark Lagree & Social Wellness Club – 233 Main St., Penticton, British Columbia V2A 5B1 (250/493-1272 www.larklagree.com)