Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Gaedeke Group Unleashing New Force at Darth Vader Building in West Palm Beach, FL



 Owner investing $500,000 to Develop  Force Fitness Center

WEST PALM BEACH, FL – The iconic Northbridge Centre, aka the Darth Vader Building (top left photo), will soon become a dynamic force for downtown tenants and the general public to fulfill their quests to stay fit.

Gaedeke Group LLC will invest more than $500,000 to build out and equip ground-floor space in the property's four-story pavilion as a new amenity for the marketplace.

The 5,700-sf Northbridge Fitness Center is part of the Dallas-based owner's 2012 strategy for its downtown landmark, which is located just steps from the Palm Beach County Judicial Center and boasts unobstructed upper-floor views of the Atlantic Ocean and Intracoastal Waterway.

 Also, the owner's initiatives include seeking LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council for the Energy Star-rated, 239,233-sf high rise and 49,000-sf pavilion at 515 N. Flagler Dr.

Kirk Fetter (top right photo), Gaedeke's vice president of leasing, admits it was tempting to brand the new amenity as "Force Fitness" in keeping with Darth Vader imagery. But, tradition prevailed:  it will be christened Northbridge Fitness Center.

The new fitness center will include full shower facilities, locker rooms and dedicated space for massage therapy, aerobics, Pilates and Yoga. Also, the plan calls for on-site fitness pros and state-of-the-art cardio equipment, free weights, treadmills, rowing machines and elliptical trainers.  Construction is slated to get under way in 30 to 45 days.

 "We think there's a need for a high-end facility in the downtown market," Fetter says.

Northbridge Centre's new amenity effectively primes the balance of the vacant pavilion's class A space for medical office uses, including sports- and fitness-related specialists who will be within a half-mile of Good Samaritan Hospital.

Northbridge Fitness Center will open in late spring. The facility will be card key-accessible seven days a week.

Skinned in black glass and black metal, the 21-story Northbridge Centre was dubbed the "Darth Vader Building" in 1983 because its north face silhouette closely resembles the imposing helmet of the fearless Star Wars character.

Some owners might wince at the connection, but not Gaedeke Group, which last spring decided to ensure the nickname would remain part of the building's allure with a tongue-in-cheek video.



Contact:  Kirk Fetter, 561-515-7407

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