A biker passes 232 Varet Street, future home of the Green Fitness Studio, a new gym that aims to use recycled materials and energy efficient equipment. — Photo by Diego Cupolo

After acquiring a new falafel place, new wine shop, new café and new bar the Morgantown settlement will continue expanding its retail boundaries with a new eco-friendly gym. Construction is underway at 232 Varet Street where the Green Fitness Studio is slated to open this fall, giving fitness-starved residents a new option in their desolate industrial neighborhood.

The 7,900-square-foot facility will offer a wide range of training equipment, yoga, pilates and spin classes in a glass enclosed atrium, as well as an outdoor rooftop workout and lounge area – all for competitive membership prices, according to manager Rachel Borgen. The gym will also embrace environmentally sustainable design (a rare feat North Brooklyn) by using recycled construction materials, self-powered cardio machines and energy-efficient lighting. 

“People in this community seem to be more environmentally conscious than average citizens so we are designing the gym with that kind of mentality,” Borgen said. “In the construction process, every time we have to make a decision we consider both regular materials and green materials, and then make the best decision from there.” 

“Reuse-Reduce-Recycle” is definitely a guiding principle at Green Fitness Studio — the indoor training area will use rubber flooring made from old car tires and the bathrooms will be lined with recycled glass tile. Interior lighting will mainly consist of energy-sipping Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) bulbs and Light Emitting Diode (LED) lights.  

Also, the main floor will use remanufactured workout machines, many of which will be self-powered to reduce energy consumption. Solar panels might be installed on the rooftop in the near future, but they are not a main priority before the gym’s grand opening.  

Rachel’s father’s window guard manufacturing company, Avant Guards, has owned the building and been based in the first floor at 232 Varet Street for about 10 years. Green Fitness Studio will occupy the second story of the warehouse. The family was surprised at the new businesses that have opened across the street, but as they watched the Morgan area evolve, they decided it was ready for a gym. 

Borgen said she has been seeking feedback from the community and wants to create a gym that best serves the needs of area residents. To do so, she created an online survey and every response is being taken into consideration. 

“Surprisingly, a lot of people said they want a nutritionist and karate classes,” Borgen said. “If they want it, we’ll give it to them and if it works, we’ll expand our offerings in that area.” 

Most intriguing of all, the Green Fitness Studio will create an outdoor rooftop garden/workout area in the middle of the North Brooklyn Industrial Complex… not the most likely of places to roll out a yoga mat on a tree-lined terrace. The outdoor area will serve multiple purposes, from lounging to exercise space, but most classes will be held in the 2000-square foot glass enclosed atrium. 

“We understand that we’re in an industrial area and we can’t create a total oasis, but we’re trying,” Borgen said. 

The gym advertises its opening date as October 15, 2009 and is looking to hire locally so any unemployed personal trainers out there should send in their resumes.

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