Fitness on the Fly
Passengers and flight staff alike can use the gym in Terminal F.
Airports have all kinds of fresh new amenities these days, from order-from-your-seat bistros to dedicated spaces for nursing parents and service animals. A gym may feel like an unexpected pre-flight amenity, but ROAM Fitness recently opened a fitness center at Philadelphia International Airport. One of the owners wanted to use one of my images of the Philadelphia skyline as a background mural in the new gym.
My first challenge was finding an image that would adequately cover the space. It had to show the skyline well, fit an elongated rectangle about 9 feet tall and 35 feet long, and accommodate a gap for the entryway. I combed through my many years of digital archives to select images that would fit these criteria.
I used Photoshop to scale each candidate image to the proper layout and dimensions. The owners then chose their favorite among the options I presented.
This was the mockup chosen by my client—a unanimous winner among all deciding votes!
The next challenge was enlarging my digital image to more than 30 feet in length. Since workouts would happen right next to the mural, it had to look snappy and sharp even from a close distance. I worked with Mike Antner at Richart Graphics to produce the final product.
A workout surrounded by the Philly skyline? Rocky, eat your heart out!
Guests can enjoy a peaceful yoga session that “looks out” onto the beautiful Philadelphia skyline. Namaste!
Photoshop alone could not create the sharp full-size image I needed. Artificial intelligence (AI) is a hot topic in the creative arts these days, and I enjoyed the opportunity to implement it in my work. I researched and found a software called Topaz AI that uses an online database to rebuild an original image at substantially expanded dimensions without losing its original crispness. I selected an option that categorized my subject as “architectural,” and Topaz AI used my direction and its database to create a remarkably sharp final image.
The mural wraps around to a side wall by the cardio machines.
Richart did an excellent job of converting the final file to print and installing the mural. I stopped by to photograph the finished product and observe how my image would be seen by gymgoers every day.
Forgot your yoga mat? ROAM Fitness also has a retail shop with anything you might need for your workout—whether that’s in Terminal F or at your final destination.
Whether it’s a few laps on a treadmill before boarding or a full weight session on a long layover, guests can work out and then freshen up in the on-site showers. And if you’re missing some gear for your pre-flight workout, ROAM Fitness has a retail shop adjacent to the gym for anything you forgot to pack in your carry-on.