Architecture studio Waind Gohil + Potter (WG+P Architects) have revealed a new gym concept for one of Manchester’s historic railway goods buildings.

The firm are behind a 20,000sq ft (1,800sq m) design for the city’s Grade II Listed Great Northern Warehouse, which “creates a dynamic and modernistic atmosphere within a large flexible space.”

The plan configures functional, cardio and strength training areas, in addition to the club’s studios, throughout the open-vaulted steel and brick structure. Restrained raw materials will be used to reference the building’s industrial past, including precast concrete wall panelling, a concrete ‘runway’ through the space and polished stainless steel cladding. Street furniture, used for Parkour training, will also feature.

To add an extra sense of drama, the gym will be animated by modulating lighting and visual projections.

“Fitness is increasingly shaping its identity,” said WG+P director Phil Waind. “Millennials socialise at the gym, rather than at the bar, and exercise is becoming widely understood as routinely necessary to survive the metropolis.

“The spaces we work out in are taking on a new social and physical importance contributing to our wellness. Gyms are evolving into movie-esque environments providing exhilarating experiences.”

WG+P previously transformed the ground floor and basement of an abandoned mansion block in Kensington, London, to create a health club for boutique pay-as-you-go operator Core Collective. They are currently working on two more gyms for the same brand.

The firm is participating in the London Festival of Architecture in July, where they will host a talk on the evolution of gym design.