We have peaked, and this is only the beginning.
Towards the end of 2021, after a dreadful year or 2 working through a global pandemic, we was asked if we could design and build a martial arts family centre. A Hub if want for a better word. this would be the start of a new Martial Arts program, but not solely focussed on fighting. The task in hand was to create an inviting family training centre, with maximum space for training, family friendly with an open viewing area and some homely touches. We jumped at the chance, we love a good challenge.
To get a better plan of action on what works and what don't, who better to ask than the audience. The staff, students, visitors and even potential new customers. The people who will benefit from the facilities. This gave us a major insight to what we can include and where to place them. Such as changing rooms, a shower, disabled access and facilities.
We was finally armed with a drawing or 2, a tape measure and a tonne of timber. Our first move was to set out our layout in timber on the floor so we can really gauge the room sizes, the true location of facilities and the general space we have to work with. With steel columns in the unit which we couldn't move we wanted to incorporate them into the layout so the was either out the way or utilised in our layout.
All in agreement with the layout, we set about erecting all our walls and ceilings ready for the electrician to come and install all his cables and the plumber to run his pipework, before we set about getting the place plaster boarded and skimmed. Now we had our true layout, walls, ceilings and door ways. It was perfect, we was happy, the clients were thrilled and even the off visitor that popped in to see if we'd taken their ideas on board was happy. Smiles all round.
After some intense woodwork, litres upon litres of paint and some late nights we had the majority of the messy work completed and it was time to move onto the matted area. There was a lot of matting. Floor, walls and columns, all lined in timber and matted for safety.
Aside from the big build, the walls, the ceilings and all the heavy stuff, we also custom made a reception desk, a shoe rack, installed some space saving pocket doors and created an entertainment wall lined with moss to house a TV.
The end of the job came and although we was sad to see it come to an end, everyone was overwhelmed with emotions, from happy tears, to feeling extremely proud of what we had completed as a team. A variety of trades, clients, students and visitors, united as one team, all working together to create something amazing. The Dojo was then featured on BBC News and ITV News.
The news reported on how the centre is helping people, of all ages, not only learn the art of self defence, but is also highly focussed on mental health and well being, teaching confidence, self control and positivity.
As much as we had an amazing time being apart of this project. We're honoured to have been apart of it and we look forward to the next one.