MULTI-purpose, state-of-the-art building planned for the City of Hamilton could prove key in warming residents to the idea of urban living.

As the island's housing crisis, combined with its limited development potential, continues to drive the need for such accommodation, the Bermuda Project Managers Limited is working to ensure the infrastructure is in place to make city life more appealing.

"You live in an apartment, you have access to the gym, the yacht club ? it's all a part of being downtown," explained director Adam Hawley.

"We are delighted to be working as project managers for the Athletic Club on their proposed building on Wesley Street. The Corporation of Hamilton is looking to revitalise downtown Hamilton and we believe that the proposed building will support their vision."

Before the Department of Planning is an application to develop an eight-storey gym and office building at the site which formerly housed the Island Cuisine deli.

Anticipated for the 50,000 square- foot space is a state-of-the-art facility which will include a 25-metre swimming pool, a caf?/bar, a pro shop, relaxation areas and 14,416 square feet of commercial space.

It's a brave concept for Bermuda, Mr. Hawley admits, but one he feels bears positive reflection of the City of Hamilton Plan.

"One of the main aims of the new City of Hamilton Plan is to provide the framework for a revitalised City," he said, quoting the document. "This can be accomplished in a number of ways but one of the most effective means is by ensuring that there is a varied mix of uses particularly at street level. Areas dominated by single uses, particularly office uses, can produce a sterile environment outside office hours . . ."

Continued Mr. Hawley: "Theatres, restaurants and buildings like this are the reasons for moving back into the City. They're in the spirit of the Plan. It's very unusual for Bermuda. It's not the run-of-the-mill type of club you see in the States either."

Mr. Hawley began working with the Athletic Club's owners, Richard and Kym Burns , around six months ago. The pair approached him, interested in moving their facility to a larger premises which would allow them to expand their operations.

"They're great clients because they're so passionate about their work. It was evident in our meetings that they knew exactly what they were looking for. They've outgrown the space they're now in. The tremendous difficulty was that it only had one multi-use area.

"We've got a great designer on our team, s.h.y. Architecture. We put the ideas expressed to us by the Athletic Club in a frame they could understand to help make a specific plan and make the whole thing work."

As reported by , architect Simon Hodgson admitted the proposed eight storeys would not pass Planning Department scrutiny.

"Our client acknowledges the site is zoned for a maximum of seven storeys above street level and understands the Development Applications Board has no discretion to permit an additional bonus floor unless they provide 50 per cent gross floor area dedicated to residential use.

"Consequently, it is anticipated this application will have to be reviewed by the independent planning inspector and the Minister of the Environment on appeal, where we hope to make compelling arguments why the Minister should exercise her discretion and allow the additional floor for this development."

Mr. Hawley argued that the project could benefit the entire community as the issue of wellness is central to its focus.

"A state-of-the-art wellness facility will be of great benefit to the local community," he said. "A number of companies on the island ? as well as Government ? are promoting wellness initiatives at the moment.

"Everybody's trying to be healthier now, they're focusing on exercise more because they can't afford to not be doing something. The facility will assist Bermudians in improving their health and fitness and, in turn, reduce the incidences of preventable illness in Bermuda. It will also make the City of Hamilton a more appealing place to live."

Once it has received Planning approval, the project should be completed in around two-and-a-half years, Mr. Hawley said.

"The real challenge (in its development) was the multi-levels. If we lived in a place with oodles of space, this kind of facility would be put into a cheap building with lots of floor space which we could divide into the necessary rooms. Unfortunately, Bermuda doesn't have that land mass, that luxury of space, so it must be done in an urban setting. That in itself creates a challenge.

"Because we wanted to ensure there was a varied mix of uses included in the development, we had to understand the different uses. We had to think in three-dimensional space planning as opposed to two dimensional. We had to understand what worked next to something else ? where the wet areas should be placed in relation to the aerobics rooms and the relaxation rooms."