A new Club makes its home in one of LA’s most revered neighborhoods.
Residents of Los Angeles know that it’s often less about the city and more about the neighborhood. Each one has a distinct feel, defined by proximity to downtown or the beach, by the community that calls it home, by the surrounding freeways and hiking trails. The Pacific Palisades is no exception, which is precisely why Equinox jumped at the opportunity to open a new location right where Sunset Boulevard and the Pacific Coast Highway meet.
Equinox took over the former Bay Club after it shuttered a few years ago. The Equinox Development Team had the unique opportunity to fully demo the existing spaces, building out new interiors that pay homage to the historic beach-front neighborhood Equinox will call home.
“For those who visited [Bay Club], nothing is the same,” says Tim Gaiennie, Equinox’s Vice President of Architecture. “We had this opportunity to create a space that feels like Equinox the brand, but also feels unique to the Palisades community and elevated identity — and we did exactly that.”
Having the beach directly across the street provided the team with plenty of inspiration — and the new spaces with plenty of Pacific breezes. “The Club is spread out over two buildings that have direct views of the Pacific Ocean. You get those views almost anywhere in the space,” Gaiennie says, noting that the locker rooms are one of the few exceptions for privacy.
The two-building structure also provides an unexpected, expansive layout that feels distinctly West Coast. After all, LA is a city that spreads outward, not up.
To access the Club, members will enter through an airy reception space dotted with polished marble stone and oak wood details and with all the amenities you’d expect from an Equinox, including a lounge area, a retail shop, and a cafe. A spacious yoga and barre studio is also on the entrance level, bathed in ambient light.
On another level, strength and cardio areas feature floor-to-ceiling windows, also overlooking the ocean, while a spin studio occupies the top level. You’ll find more strength and cardio areas when you cross into the second building, along with the main group fitness studio.
But, Gaiennie says, the space between spaces most sets the location apart. To flow between buildings, the team built out a network of open-air terraces with dedicated lounge areas. Each terrace celebrates the indoor-outdoor living that Los Angeles, especially a quintessential neighborhood like the Palisades, is known for. “You’ll be able to pick up a coffee or some food and sit in one of the inside-outside lounges year-round,” he says. “But we will also have outdoor space dedicated to fitness, so you’ll have that experience, as well.”
The interior design also reflects the community the new Club will serve. “The design takes cues from the beach, with the ocean being right there, but in a more refined way. Some beach communities are a little more rustic, but not the Palisades — the Palisades has this style that always feels finished. We took cues from that, working with layouts and finishes that feel a little more elevated,” Gaiennie says.
Finally, in tribute to the elevated community and clientele, Pacific Palisades also offers a new member perk: a Recovery space. The area provides three co-ed cold plunge tubs and a sauna where members can experiment with contrast therapy after a challenging workout.
Experimenting with new amenities and unexpected design is one thing, but Gaiennie says that what his team looks forward to most is connecting with the community. “Extending a little further north in LA to get into a distinct neighborhood we’ve long admired always gets me excited,” Gaiennie says. “The views, the terraces, the indoor-outdoor feel, it’s all about connecting with the community. This is a space that feels —,” he pauses to consider. “Well, you walk in and you just know it’s going to be great.”