Andrea Downer, Gleaner Writer
The National Commercial Bank (NCB) Wellness Centre offers two games rooms that annex the bar (pictured above) in the clubhouse. It also boasts two pool tables, a mini cyber café and tables and chairs to facilitate soft games such as cards, scrabble, monopoly etc. - CONTRIBUTED
AS YOU don the tackiest pair of sweats that you own, and an oversized tee, pull on a pair of socks and the scruffy pair of sneakers that was hibernating in the back of your closet, you mentally check off one more resolution on your New Year's list. Never mind that it is now October, you are finally going to the gym!
But when you get to the 'gym', you find that it is far from what you had expected; it is much more than just a gym. From where you stand gawking in the parking lot, you realise that you are at an upscale facility which workmen are still busy putting the finishing touches to. Perfecting perfection as far as you can tell! OK, go ahead, pinch yourself, you are not dreaming, chances are, you are either a National Commercial Bank employee or one of the few lucky people who have associate membership at the bank's new Wellness and Recreation Centre.
The bank opened the refurbished facility a few weeks ago at Phoenix Avenue in St. Andrew and the facility now has an quaint old-world charm that is reminiscent of historic great houses with stories to tell. The main building - The Club House, is tastefully furnished with contemporary art and furniture and just the right splashes of colour to create small pockets of interest in the wide hall that runs the length of a fully stocked bar. Wooden floors that have been varnished to create a luminous surface provide the base colour of the décor. The cool earth brown of the floor is echoed in leather high-backed chairs that are grouped around conversation tables creating intimate clusters. At the hall's periphery, lower tables and chairs huddle together companionably, providing a comforting option to those who prefer to view life from the edge of the spotlight. Two doors leading off one side of the clubhouse offer other entertainment options for anyone who might want to do more than
just socialise over drinks.
Wide glass panels that run the length of the hall from ceiling to floor, provides an uninterrupted view of a double tennis court that sits at the front of the property adjacent to the parking lot. Beyond the court, a cluster of trees and smaller shrubs shield a part of the property from public scrutiny.
Andre Latty, human resource generalist at NCB, says the
facility, which was formerly called a sports club, could be considered an heirloom as it has been in the NCB family for decades.
"The sports club existed from Barclay's days and we thought we would make some changes and give it a different look," he explained as he walked through the refurbished facility.
"The company (NCB) believes that healthy employees are more productive, and so it has decided to put significant investment into equipping the Wellness and Recreation Centre with the very finest furnishing and equipment. We hired an interior decorator and while some of the furnishing and fixtures were bought locally, a significant amount was sourced in Canada," Mr. Latty disclosed.
RELAXATION
One of the two games rooms that annex the bar in the clubhouse has two pool tables and the other has a mini cyber café and tables and chairs to facilitate soft games such as cards, scrabble, monopoly etc. The rooms, though small, are airy, as two walls in each room have wide windows that look out onto a basketball, badminton, netball and volleyball court at the rear of the clubhouse. One of the rooms gives an uninterrupted view of the tennis court and a neighbouring playing field that is used for field sports such as cricket, football and athletics.
Mr. Latty says a gazebo is to be constructed at the rear of the poolroom to facilitate games such as dominoes and chess. Persons who use the Wellness and Recreation Centre can also exercise their vocal cords as a multipurpose audio-visual system also functions as a karaoke machine.
The Gymnasium and Aerobics centre, the two main additions to the facility, are housed in a two-storey building that sits a few metres from the clubhouse. The aerobics centre is on the lower level and the gym overlooks two swimming pools, one for adults and one for children. Deck chairs scattered around the pool offers a cool respite after a refreshing swim and or gruelling session in the gym.
The intoxicating smell of newness rushes up to assault the senses as soon as the door of the gym is pushed open. Mr. Latty says NCB procured the very best, top-of-the-line cardio exercise equipment for the fully equipped gym. Despite the overwhelming smell of newness in the gym, however, several people had visited the gym during its morning session, based on the number of signatures in the register at the main office.
MEETING HEALTH NEEDS
Mr. Latty says the company will host wellness sessions at the facility based on an ongoing review process to access the health needs of the employees.
Michael Lee-Chin, Chairman of NCB encouraged employees to be consistently conscious of wellness and to stay committed to a long-term exercise plan. "Exercise is a pre-emptive strike against ageing and illness," he stressed.
As you pick your jaw up from the ground and start to walk towards the gym, making a mental note to yourself - to always look your best whenever you go back there, you decide that's something you will definitely add to next year's list of resolutions! After all, in a facility such as this, you've got to work out in style!
