In the continued pursuit of providing top-of-the-line facilities and offerings for community members, industry leaders are seeing heightened public interest in renovated locker rooms.
Visitors now expect to utilize amenities once reserved for upscale gyms like private changing stalls, improved lighting, better ventilation, saunas, and family-friendly or all-gender options.
Cleanliness, security, and comfort now weigh heavily on membership decisions and satisfaction surveys. Ultimately, well-designed locker rooms can boost retention, attract new members, and signal that a rec center invests in dignity, privacy and everyday user experience beyond just workout equipment.
Below, discover how the Greater Wyoming Valley Area YMCA in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, and the St. Louis JCC are capitalizing on the benefits of renovated locker rooms.
Greater Wyoming Valley Area YMCA
In February 2026, the Greater Wyoming Valley Area YMCA completed renovations on the men’s and women’s locker rooms at the Wilkes-Barre Family YMCA branch. These upgrades included:
Infrared Saunas. Equipped with red-light therapy bulbs and salt therapy technology for enhanced recovery and health benefits.
Universal Private Space. Includes individual, private bathrooms and showers adjacent to a shared communal area with sinks and mirrors, offering a safe, inclusive option for families and individuals.
Modernized Amenities. Brand-new, updated lockers throughout the space.
Updated Fixtures. Completely renewed private shower stalls and restroom facilities.
Jeremy Popiel, the president and CEO of the Greater Wyoming Valley Area YMCA, said these improvements were driven by evolving member needs, health benefits and the Y’s commitment to safety and inclusivity.
“We added individual private bathrooms and showers to create a universal space designed with families, children and privacy in mind,” said Popiel. “This gives parents who can’t bring a child of a different gender into a traditional men’s or women’s locker room a safe, comfortable and private alternative.”
Popiel added while traditional daily users prefer full-size lockers, an increasing number of members prefer smaller, temporary lockers just to secure a few items for an hour or two. Adding these expanded the Y’s storage options to better match how people use the facility today. Also, replacing the old whirlpool with saunas provides superior long-term health and efficiency.
Thus far, member response to the renovated locker rooms at the Y has been overwhelmingly positive.
“Demand was so high that the men’s locker room fully sold out of reserved lockers before the construction crew even finished,” said Popiel. “Members have been especially drawn to the new infrared red-light therapy saunas, with many coming in specifically to take advantage of their health and recovery benefits.”
St. Louis JCC
In 2025, the St. Louis JCC installed new locker rooms as part of a comprehensive, 15-month renovation the J’s Marilyn Fox Building.
The men’s and women’s locker rooms feature infrared saunas, steam rooms, showers with changing spaces, and lockers with battery-free mechanical locks. The community locker room space includes private rooms with a shower, toilet and changing area. Also, the renovations integrated a mother’s room.
Complimentary amenities include towels, shampoo, conditioner, mouthwash, lotion and hair dryers. The JCC also removed televisions to create a calmer environment.
“The locker rooms were 30 years old, and it was time for an update,” said Nicole Hawkins, the COO of the St. Louis JCC. “We needed to replace the mechanical systems, but we also had a chance to rethink the space and add amenities like infrared saunas, private spaces and changing areas. Members really like the new design, and the infrared saunas have been a favorite.”
Before starting your own locker room renovation project, Hawkins advised for industry leaders to first talk to members and ask staff what they’re hearing, and use surveys or comment boxes to give people a chance to weigh in. Then let members know what you heard and how their feedback helped shape the design.
Final Advice
Popiel’s tips for effective locker room design comprised of taking a “something for everyone” approach and to design with all user types in mind.
“We modernized our traditional locker rooms for members who stay longer, while adding quick-access options for younger, on-the-go users who just need to grab a locker for an hour,” said Popiel. “Also, prioritize flow and throughput. Increasing private options doesn’t have to slow things down. Adding individual universal bathrooms and dedicated shower/change areas helped our spaces turn over much faster during peak hours.”
Finally, Popiel said to reclaim unused footprint, and to not be afraid to reimagine underutilized locker room square footage.
“We were able to capture wasted space and convert it into high-impact program areas for youth activities,” said Popiel. “Design for modern privacy and family needs. Universal spaces aren’t just a trend — they’re essential for modern safety, family convenience and overall facility inclusivity.”
