Creating Functional, Cost-Effective Space
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From the outside, the UKKFF headquarters in New Malden, Surrey is not an impressive sight. It consists of two floors situated above an estate agent, and a small side-door down an alley. High profile it certainly isn't, and compared to many martial art centres it lacks the huge training areas, high ceilings, and expensive signage. It also took over 1 year to acquire & refit, so why all the fuss about 750sqm? What was the thinking behind such a teaching venue?
After deciding to acquire a full-time training centre, we realised that ultimately our students would be bearing the cost through their tuition fees. If we chose a huge venue and invested thousands on expensive decoration, rent, rates, heating, lighting and training equipment, we would be obliged to raise tuition fees and perhaps even use annual contracts to ensure a continuous cashflow in order to keep the place running. We vowed to avoid this at all costs. We had already saved the capital necessary for acquisition and renovation, and since 1999 had built a large enough student base to sustain a full-time centre. We would not be forced to borrow or gamble, or increase fees to cover our own investment.
Also we wanted our venue to be easily accessable by all forms of public and private transport, which meant being close to bus routes, a train station, major roads and car parks. All this added up to a town centre, which also had the added bonus of a very high level of passing trade (should we choose to put up signage) and also the convenience of high street shops, banks, and services.
The answer was to create a space on, or very close to a High Street which could contain both administration offices and some private tuition rooms. During the working week you simply don't need space for 100 students, just some well-equipped rooms for individual one-to-one private lessons, small groups or personal training. These spaces can also be used at weekends for small-group seminars, and our general classes would continue at good-quality hired venues in various towns. This way we paid only for the actual time used in training. Understanding these concepts led us to our current building, but it was in a terrible state of repair and needed much work.
While the legal process was underway, we began planning the renovation. We were recommended the services of Kingston-based interior design company Interiors Europe, and worked closely with them for months refining our designs and balancing budgets. Eventually the day came for the keys to be handed over, at which point IU took over and spent 5 weeks hard at work gutting the building and rebuilding everything to our careful specifications. We oversaw the work and tried not to get in the way of the excellent decorators, electricians, carpenters and flooring contractors!
We finally opened our doors on Feb 21st 2005, and the results speak for themselves. All UKKFF students now have free access to our training facilities during opening hours, plus have a base for all private tuition and our collection of martial arts books & films. Our goal is to have excellent students, and we will continue to support them in their learning in every way we can. Pop in for a cup of green tea if you're passing!
- Author: Lee Heron
- Sources: None
