Third Rail Fitness

The length of the foot is one sixth of the height of the body; of the forearm, one fourth; and the breadth of the breast

is also one fourth. The other members, too, have their own symmetrical proportions, and it was by employing them that the famous painters and sculptors of antiquity attained to great and

endless renown. Similarly, in the members of a temple there ought to be the greatest harmony in the symmetrical relations of the different parts to the general magnitude of the whole.

~Excerpt from Vitruvius’ “De architectura” (3.1.2-3)

We have become a society accustomed to having things on-the-go. Nowhere is that more obvious than in New York City. Whether reading

the New York Post or the New York Times on the train, listening to music on an iPod while

running in Central Park, or getting a coffee and a bagel during the walk to work, everything is

on-the-go. This project explores the potential of “on-the-go” architecture by inhabiting moments

and spaces of motion and mobility with architectural programs which have traditionally

been considered static.

The hottest gym in the Lower East Side is now underground. Not only providing a first-class

fitness experience, Third Rail Fitness is also a forum for performance: the human body is put on stage adjacent to, and within the

subway—a space historically used for display and performance. For years, musicians have

performed in stations, and wandered from car to car playing music or singing. Break dancers

and pole dancers entertain passengers, and improvisational comedy groups take to the subway to amuse and engage riders. Third

Rail Fitness juxtaposes the high energy of the subway with the high energy of an intense

gym. Is that person running to catch the train, or training for a marathon? It could be both! New Yorkers, it’s time to flex your muscles, sweat a

little, and show off that body.

POWERING YOUR WORKOUT

THIRD RAIL FITNESS

9

Stills from animated GIF “teasers” explaining the concept of juxtaposition within the project. A man curls on the subway platform while waiting for the train (left). A man runs to catch the train as the doors close, and that same man at the gym running on a treadmill (right).

Teaser postcard developed as an advertisement for the gym. A man waiting

to go to work in his suit stands on the other side of a wall shared by the platform and the

gym’s saunas.

10

11

Street Level Floor Plan.

A-A

C-C

B-B

D-D

Gym Level (-1) Floor Plan.

12

Section through Pools. (B-B)

Section through Diving Well. (A-A)

Section through Cardio Room. (D-D)

Section through Weight Room. (C-C)

13

View looking out over the boxing ring and into the passageway to the F, M, J, and Z, trains at the Delancey Street – Essex Street station.

14

Rendering of the interior of the diving well and view out onto the public plaza.

15

The fitness car drew inspiration from the free public fitness equipment along

Copacabana Beach, in Rio de Janeiro, the site of my studio’s semester trip.

16

The fitness car allows the gym to permeate throughout the subway. Riders have the opportunity to workout during their

commute without ever leaving the train. The reach of the gym expands from a single neighborhood to Manhattan,

Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx.

17

Ride the fitness car.Ride the fitness car.

THE MTA’S HARASSMENT POLICY DOESN’T SAY THE SUBWAY SHOULDN’T BE

Ride the fitness car. Brought to you by: Third Rail FitnessDownload our app to find the train!

SEXY.

THIRD RAILFITNESS

139 Delancey St, New York, NY 10002

Powering your workout.212-3RD-RAIL | thirdrailfitness.com

THIRD

FITNESSRAIL

THAT’A WAY

THIRD RAILFITNESS



TRADE THE

Commuting from Brooklyn takes 1 hour as it is,why not get something out of it?

FOR A .

THIRD RAILFITNESS



WE’LL THIRD RAIL YOUR A** INTO SHAPE.Personal training at Third Rail Fitness.

THIRD RAILFITNESS



BECAUSE YOU’LL FIT BETTER IN A SUBWAY SEAT.

THIRD RAILFITNESS



THIRD RAILFITNESS



YOUR COMMUTETO WORKJUST GOT BETTER.

THIRD RAILFITNESS



out NICE“THIRDRAIL.”

ARRIVE TO WORK, SWEATY.

THIRD RAILFITNESS



MULTITASK, WITHOUT A SMARTPHONE. THIRD

RAILFITNESS



Ride the fitness car. Brought to you by: Third Rail Fitness

HOT & SWEATYWANNA GET

ON THE SUBWAY?

THIRD RAILFITNESS



THIS IS YOUR STOP. THIRD RAILFITNESS

Powering your workout. 139 Delancey St, New York, NY 10002 212-3RD-RAIL | thirdrailfitness.com

Advertisement campaign developed to promote the gym wihin the subway itself.

18

Ride the fitness car.Ride the fitness car.

THE MTA’S HARASSMENT POLICY DOESN’T SAY THE SUBWAY SHOULDN’T BE

Ride the fitness car. Brought to you by: Third Rail FitnessDownload our app to find the train!

SEXY.

THIRD RAILFITNESS



THIRD

FITNESSRAIL

THAT’A WAY

THIRD RAILFITNESS



TRADE THE

Commuting from Brooklyn takes 1 hour as it is,why not get something out of it?

FOR A .

THIRD RAILFITNESS



WE’LL THIRD RAIL YOUR A** INTO SHAPE.Personal training at Third Rail Fitness.

THIRD RAILFITNESS



BECAUSE YOU’LL FIT BETTER IN A SUBWAY SEAT.

THIRD RAILFITNESS



THIRD RAILFITNESS



YOUR COMMUTETO WORKJUST GOT BETTER.

THIRD RAILFITNESS



out NICE“THIRDRAIL.”

ARRIVE TO WORK, SWEATY.

THIRD RAILFITNESS



MULTITASK, WITHOUT A SMARTPHONE. THIRD

RAILFITNESS



Ride the fitness car. Brought to you by: Third Rail Fitness

HOT & SWEATYWANNA GET

ON THE SUBWAY?

THIRD RAILFITNESS



THIS IS YOUR STOP. THIRD RAILFITNESS

Powering your workout. 139 Delancey St, New York, NY 10002 212-3RD-RAIL | thirdrailfitness.com

19

20

Third Rail Fitness advertisements cementingthe gyms presence in the subway and trains.

21

Third Rail Fitness

Documents

fitness car

hottest gym

intense gym

firstclass fitness experience

subway platform

train left

free public fitness

new york post