The challenge:
McLaren Leisure is a much-loved community facility in Callander, offering inclusive fitness activities for people of all ages and abilities. Their commitment to the local community runs deep, and when member feedback made clear that a stronger fitness offering was wanted, the team took that seriously.
The challenge was a familiar one for a community leisure facility: how to deliver a genuinely versatile training environment within a space that had real constraints. Members had been clear that strength training was their priority, but the facility also needed to support group classes, individual cardio, and the kind of varied programming that keeps a diverse membership engaged. Every decision about layout and equipment had to balance what members wanted with the practical reality of the available floor space.
McLaren Leisure needed a partner who could help them think that through carefully rather than simply selling them a kit list. Archie MacKay at Origin took on that conversation.
The solution:
Archie worked closely with the McLaren Leisure team to develop a layout and equipment plan built around how the facility would actually be used - by real members with varied goals, in a space where nothing could be wasted.
The starting point was understanding the membership. McLaren had done the groundwork before the refurbishment, gathering feedback on what members most wanted from an upgraded facility. Strength training came out clearly on top, alongside a desire for group fitness options and accessible cardio. That brief shaped everything that followed.
The functional training zone was designed around a customised performance rig that could serve multiple training purposes simultaneously - individual workouts, coached group sessions, and the kind of varied circuit programming that keeps classes fresh and members coming back. The rig was configured with versatility built in from the start, including the ability to adapt and expand it over time as the programme evolves. Integrated storage throughout kept the floor usable and the space feeling open despite the constraints.
For strength training, the equipment selection was developed collaboratively to give members the range they had asked for - free weights, barbells, power racks, and cable work - all specified to work within the available footprint without compromising on quality or usability. Storage was considered at every stage, ensuring the facility could function efficiently even during busy periods.
The cardio offer was updated with a deliberate decision to relocate the cycling studio from a separate area of the centre into an open-plan zone within the main gym floor. That single layout change transformed the group cycling experience, making classes feel more inclusive and adding energy to the broader gym environment in a way the previous setup never achieved.
Origin managed the full delivery and installation throughout, ensuring the refurbished facility was ready for members and the new programme could launch without delay.
The outcome:
The refurbishment has had a transformative impact on McLaren Leisure's fitness programme and its membership. The RigFit classes built around the new functional training zone have become the most popular on the entire timetable - a result that speaks directly to how well the space and equipment were matched to what members actually wanted. The success of those classes gave McLaren Leisure the confidence to run their first ever member fitness event, RigFit Games, which was well received across the membership.
The open-plan cycling studio has proven equally successful. Bringing the cycles into the main gym floor has made classes feel more welcoming and has brought atmosphere to an area of the facility that previously lacked it - a small layout decision with a significant impact on how the space feels day to day.
Throughout the refurbishment, the McLaren Leisure team approached every decision with their members at the centre of it. Origin's role was to take that member-first brief and help translate it into a physical space and equipment plan that delivered on it. The outcome is a facility that not only meets but exceeds what members asked for, and a programme that has grown meaningfully as a result.
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