A construction project that began late July will soon increase the size of Liberty Lake Athletic Club. That upgrade also will prepare new space to bring in a local physical therapy office onsite.

Grant Bafus, the athletic club's owner, said the project is expected to take around 90 days to complete and will add almost 3,000 square feet, all as part of a second-level addition. The club also is remodeling some existing main-level space to accommodate a practice area for Liberty Lake Physical Therapy-Therapeutic Associates, with Steve Allen as director.

A cycling room and stretching area will move upstairs to the new mezzanine, and that new cycling space will be designed so it can be used also for yoga, ballet, Pilates and other sessions. The second-floor level additionally will have more room for adding new cardio equipment, Bafus said.

"We'll spread out cardio and weight training equipment on both upper and lower levels," Bafus said. "There will still be a true weight room; the one we have now won't change dramatically. We're going to spread out some of the machines a little bit more, such as adding new cardio upstairs, and also some new pieces we don't currently carry. The goal is to add more cardio equipment."

Steve Allen said the physical therapy practice likely will move into its new 1,600-square-foot quarters at the club around late October from its current office at 23505 E. Appleway Ave. Liberty Lake Physical Therapy-Therapeutic Associates has 10 employees. Among those, Allen works as a physical therapist along with two others, James Tangredi and Sean Campbell.

"It's a great move for us because we're going to align with a highly-respected, well-run athletic club," Allen said. "I've had access to work with my patients there for years. This is a chance for our clients to have access to the pool and the facility. That's a real plus and better service and care than we can currently provide patients onsite without going somewhere." 

Therapeutic Associates is a Seattle-based corporate business, with a majority of clinics in the Pacific Northwest. As one of about 70 clinics, the Liberty Lake facility has operated since 2001. 

Allen added, "We see a fair amount of Liberty Lake Athletic Club members. It will help them, perhaps after an injury, to be able to connect with them there at the club. It's nice exposure; we'll be on the ground floor. I've known Grant for some time, and I really respect the man, his business model and his ethics. I feel honored we've been included."

Bafus also described the pairing with Allen and his associates as a win-win. 

"It will be a great partnership and will enhance the amount of wellness offerings we can provide to our members," Bafus said.

"It's important to us," Bafus added. "It's a one-stop shop for healthy living. You've got Steve Allen who has an excellent reputation locally and regionally. You put him in here and his staff, and it's just a good marriage of two businesses that complement each other. There are a lot of members from the athletic club who use Steve Allen, and this will be much more convenient for them."

Because the project will demolish the current cycling room and a stretching area to build the new physical therapy space, spin classes will be temporarily on hold. However, most member uses and classes are expected to continue as scheduled during construction, Bafus said.

He said the project will relocate some fitness equipment and add a larger, functional training and stretching area. 

"We'll have a little bit of everything on both levels," he said. "Ultimately, it will increase the square footage of our weight room. It will allow us more square footage for cardio and weight equipment overall. We will increase the square footage for both our cardio area and for our weight room by about 20 percent each."

This is by far the biggest improvement project for the club in seven years, which has also seen new flooring installed a few years ago, some other small upgrades and equipment updates. 

The addition of a second floor mezzanine will span from the north weight room wall to the south basketball court wall.

"Basically it covers the west end of the weight room, and above what used to be the cycle room, and will span north-south walls within the weight room," he said.

A temporary wall on the main level will separate the new space being worked on from the current weight room, which will temporarily reduce the size of the weight room just during construction. Bafus said a few machines may be unavailable on a short-term basis as well, but members will have access to the facility for most needs, he added.

"There might be slight interruptions to the facility, mostly for cyclists. We won't be able to hold the cycle class through construction at around 90 days from start, but just the spinning classes will be on hold."