Aia Orange County

DIRECTOR OF DESIGN – LUXURY FITNESS CLUB DEVELOPMENT

JOB DESCRIPTION

Our Client is seeking a DIRECTOR OF DESIGN to provide hands‑on architectural and design leadership for its newest generation of high‑end fitness and wellness environments. These are sophisticated, highly programmed facilities combining fitness, boutique studios, wellness, recovery and hospitality‑oriented amenities within a single development.

The Director of Design will lead projects from the earliest schematic concept. This is a hands‑on architectural leadership role for someone who can oversee the development of original designs and work with outside architectural consultants to produce a completed product.

The Director is involved with the Real Estate Team before a project even begins, participating in the evaluation of prospective acquisitions and real estate opportunities. This person will assist in evaluations of potential sites and existing buildings to determine how effectively the club program can be accommodated, identify architectural and construction constraints, and provide design input that helps inform the viability of a deal.

Once a project moves forward, the Director oversees the development of the initial schematic design concept, site plan, building configuration, floor plan. CAD is a daily part of the position—not simply a review function. The Director will personally develop and modify drawings to explore ideas, solve problems and communicate clear design direction.

From there, the Director will work with the company development managers to lead outside architectural firms and specialty consultants through design development and construction documents, ensuring that the original concept is carried through to production and ultimately the completed club.

Projects incorporate a wide range of specialized fitness, wellness and hospitality environments with different structural, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, lighting, acoustic, waterproofing and operational requirements. The Director must understand how these systems affect the architecture and be able to coordinate the appropriate disciplines without compromising the overall design.

With approximately 45–50 new clubs developed during a typical year, this position requires someone who can maintain consistent design and quality standards across a significant development pipeline while adapting the product to different sites, buildings, jurisdictions and project conditions.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Ability to integrate the company’s visual brand identity into the architecture and built environment is key to the role.

Advanced understanding of the seamless integration of signage, environmental graphics, wayfinding, lighting and building materials is preferred.

Lead projects from initial concepts through design development, construction documents and production.

Personally develop initial concept designs, site plans, building configurations, floor plans and schematic designs.

Participate in the evaluation of potential acquisitions, development sites and existing buildings, identifying architectural opportunities, limitations, and potential construction challenges.

Use CAD as a daily design and communication tool to develop ideas and provide clear direction to internal teams and outside consultants.

Direct and coordinate third‑party architectural firms throughout the United States and Canada.

Manage the integration of interior design, MEP, structural, lighting, landscape and specialty consultants into the overall architectural vision.

Review design development and construction documents for design intent, technical coordination, constructability and consistency with established development standards.

Provide architectural oversight for environments involving specialized HVAC, acoustical, structural, electrical, plumbing and waterproofing requirements.

Evaluate materials, finishes and architectural details for design quality, durability, performance and long‑term operational demands.

Work closely with development and construction teams to resolve design and constructability issues as projects advance.

Maintain established design standards while adapting the club program to different properties, site conditions and real estate opportunities.

Manage numerous active projects and consultant teams simultaneously while maintaining schedule, consistency and design quality.

QUALIFICATIONS

10+ years of progressive architectural experience with a strong background in high‑quality commercial, retail, hospitality, resort, wellness, fitness or similarly design‑intensive projects.

Professional Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Architecture.

Architectural licensure is preferred.

Strong experience in conceptual design, schematic design, site planning, building design and space planning.

Demonstrated ability to direct outside architectural firms, engineers and specialty consultants.

Strong construction knowledge with the ability to review detailed construction documents for technical coordination and constructability.

Proficiency in AutoCAD and/or Vectorworks, with the ability and willingness to remain personally involved in daily design work.

SketchUp, Photoshop and other visualization/presentation capabilities are a plus.

Working knowledge of the architectural and building‑system demands associated with high‑performance commercial, hospitality, wellness or fitness environments.

Ability to manage a high volume of projects and design issues simultaneously in a fast‑paced development environment.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE This position fits an architect who can start with a new real estate deal and stay engaged through production. Someone who still enjoys designing, drawing and solving architectural problems, but who also has the experience and confidence to lead outside design professionals and hold them accountable for execution. Creativity is important, but so are constructability, execution and consistency. The objective is to create best‑in‑class fitness and wellness environments and maintain that level of design and quality as the portfolio continues to grow.

Contact Kipp Gillian | Gillian Executive Search, Inc. to learn more.

About:

Gillian Executive Search conducts a broad range of recruiting assignments focused in real estate development, design/architecture, construction, financing, accounting law and more. We service almost all industry sectors including multifamily, affordable housing, commercial office, industrial, hospitality, retail, healthcare and emerging real estate technologies.