Racquetball Club Converted into COVID-Friendly Co-Workspace

PHOENIX, AZ -- Faciliteq, a workplace solution provider in the Southwest, is set to open its newest adaptive reuse project in November.

Developed with sister company BWIQ (Build With IQ), the Five55 Melrose building transforms a former neighborhood fitness center into a modern co-working environment designed with the post-COVID world in mind.

Five55 Melrose (555 W. Turney Ave.) was built in 1977 as a fitness center and racquetball club that served midtown Phoenix for 30 years. Faciliteq founder Quentin Abramo and BWIQ President, John Shinners, knew that respecting the history of the building was important for both the community and for bringing the space into in the future.

Original features of the club still remain, from the courts that have become office and lounge areas to the center walkway that is now a gathering point for presentations and networking. 

“Faciliteq and BWIQ are committed to sustaining the rich history of each building we renovate,” said Abramo. “We knew that the racquetball club would offer great bones for a unique communal workspace that would lead the way to the future of work.”

Even before the novel coronavirus changed daily office life, Faciliteq has lead the way in flexible workspace design that promote safe environments. Features of Five55 Melrose showcase many of the solutions shared business spaces are now adapting to.

Highlights include:
•     Underfloor Air Distribution (UFAD). No more overhead venting. UFAD delivers cleaner air and better Indoor Air Quality with up to 60 percent reduction in exposures to occupant-generated pollutants.  
•     Improved air circulation throughout each workers’ space, avoiding the unhealthy mixture of co-pollutants.
•     Sixteen private office suites that allow for personal privacy for each team, while still maintaining an energetic, community atmosphere.
•     Moveable walls with modular power and data, allowing workers to easily adapt as workspace needs or technology changes.
•     Bleacher seating in the center of the communal workspace, ideal for group presentations. The space will also be available for community members to use for group gatherings or presentations.

This building is the third project for Faciliteq and BWIQ as it expands into the Phoenix market. Their other locations include The Walter in Central Phoenix and Faciliteq’s showroom in Tempe.

Five55 Melrose was completed in partnership with architects William Erwin of Erwin Architecture and Don Andrews of Andrews Design Group as well as Sharpe Construction. Interiors were completed by Faciliteq in partnership with Jennifer Goguen of Goguen Designs.

Abramo describes the building as an ideal space for creatives, product showrooms and multimedia production.

For more, go to https://www.faciliteq.com/ or www.bwiqdevelopment.com.