Bay Club Howard Hughes Center

The air conditioning and heating in the main building at the Bay Club RB has been broken for years and Spectrum and now Bay Club have covered this up. Went confronted with this truth the CEO (of Bay Club and previously Spectrum) admitted his people had decided not to fix this and not tell anyone even when they complained. He tried to say they did this because no one complained but that is a lie because I complained and so did many others. There is a lack of integrity here besides a breaking of contract as membership agreements are contracts and Bay Club doesn’t want to admit that because of the legal liability. I hope if you are a member or thinking about joining you will be upset to know they have withheld information from you while taking your money for services they aren’t providing.

A really nice, well kept gym… thankful that it’s part of my Bay Club package! I’ve been using their swimming pool for training… and my only quirks… the water is a bit cold! You really need to warm up hella fast when you get in!
The staff are all friendly… really clean… the amenities are all the same with their NorCal locations.
Validated parking … I think for 2 hours.
Will probably be frequenting this location for swimming and possibly their spin classes on weekends :)

I was a member of this club when it was called Spectrum, however, I developed an injury which caused me to go out on medical leave. Although I would send the the gym correspondence from my doctor every couple of months regarding my injuries, they started to harass me. I was shocked given that I had a month-​to-​month contract with the Spectrum Club and I was sending them what they have requested from the doctors. Anyway, I’m probably going to have to end up reporting them to the Better Business Bureau and possibly have to sue them in court for claiming that I didn’t pay my dues while I was out on medical leave.

I’ve been a member here for 5 – 6 months now. I moved over here because of work relocation and I used to go to LA Fitness. When I first got a tour of the place, I was impressed. However, when I learned of the price, I was taken aback. I wasn’t even sure if I was going to pay for it, even with the tenant discount (since I work within the same plaza). It’s roughly 3x-​4x the price of L.A. Fitness lol… but there is a huge upside here that makes me feel welcomed and encourages me to work out more often.
— The entire staff is helpful, knowledgeable, and friendly.
— Towel service. They’re always stacked and never run out.
— The equipment is up to date and not worn out like L.A. Fitness.
— Since I spend most of my time lifting weights, it’s generally not crowded and there’s always other equipment to alternate to.
— Unlike other gyms, the weights are racked/​re-​racked 90% of the time. I’ve always caught a few of the elderly laying their weights around. In terms of the elderly…
— The age demographic here is definitely in the older crowd. You’ll rarely find anyone in their mid twenties.
— There’s a food café, but only ordered there three times. Food is always bland.
— They also validate your parking… ALL DAY.
— IMO, they’re also about community building, thus ‘club’… but I don’t partake in any events at all since I always keep to myself :(
There’s also an upper floor of cardio machines, 3 studio/​exercise rooms, and a swimming pool. I’ve never ventured in those areas so I can’t review them.
If price is an issue for you, I’d think twice about registering for a gym pass here. But if you’re all about time, convenience, and cleanliness then this could «work out» for you. Once again, great staff, keep it up.

I have been impressed from my initial consultation with Membership Manager Benjamin. No hard selling, just the facts and what is available at various price points. There is something for everyone, IF you don’t have a proclivity to being CHEAP. I will invest in the best for my family and myself. Atmosphere and energy are important to me, not just cost. The location manager Thomas is friendly and concerned, the front desk staff is always helpful and smiling and the trainers are great! My wife had a great session with Maia and learned a lot from Seth. I will be buying more training sessions. We also plan to attend as many of the social gathering that our schedules allow. Being new, we are oblivious to the changes from Spectrum to Bay Club. I do know that change is inevitable in MOST cases and takes time to level out. We will are in for the long haul. Go Bay Club!

Gym could have better classes — why no kickboxing? But kids club is The Best and makes it totally worth it! Monica and the girls take excellent care of my little ones who have both been going since they were 6 months old.

I recently moved away from the Westside, but continue to work here. So I decided I should join a gym out here to head to after work so as to avoid rush hour. First up, Bay Club, which recently converted from a Spectrum gym (in April). So I went to their website to see what kind of trial I could get. They offer a 3 day free trial after you provide them with your contact info. Supposedly.
I received an email, set up my appointment, and came to check it out. I was given a tour of the large and startlingly uncrowded facilities, aside from the sauna which was out of commission. The first floor consists of a healthy sandwich/​drink stand (though I’d probably never partake of the food that must be overpriced unless it’s amazing), a child care center, offices, a pool, and locker rooms/​showers/​sauna/​steam rooms. The bathrooms (men’s at least) include razors, Barbasol, some kind of unnamed deodorant and unisex cologne.
The second floor has a couple of class rooms and the lifting machines/​equipment. Third floor has aerobic equipment: bikes, ellipticals, stair machines, etc.
After the tour, I worked out for a bit, and then used the shower. They do have towel service, which is nice. But as for the shower, it wasn’t the grossest I’ve ever seen, but definitely had some fungal issues between the tiles. Which shouldn’t happen at a gym that costs this much. On the bright side, I wasn’t pressured to join. But then I was never even offered the 3 day pass I was supposed to get.
All in all, this place doesn’t seem like it’s worth the 3 to 4-​fold price increase over the lower tier gyms.

I’ve been a member of Bay Club for about three months now. I’m impressed with the Bay Club’s overall philosophy and service offering. I’ll explain why further as to why it is one star short of perfect, but first, the excellent points–
AMANDA STEELE, the superstar membership director who is a sweetheart and not a «sales-​y» person at all. Ironically, when I walked into Bay Club, I just wanted to check it out (actually, believe it or not, I had ditched my work out at 24 Hour Fitness because I felt so unmotivated and decided to drive home instead, and then remembered Bay Club was on my way back) and get a tour of the space. To my luck, Amanda was there and she was informative and connected with me. I signed up and joined the membership that includes the Howard Hughes and Santa Monica locations.
This gym is a complete upgrade compared to my membership with 24 Hour Fitness and the like. Bay Club always has a surplus of machines, and if one is broken (which never is the case), it gets fixed immediately. I love the over all experience, and the things I frequent the most are the group courses, occasionally the machines and such, the mini «business center» (I sometimes do my work out of the Bay Club – free WiFi with stellar connection!) and the café which has great quality food and at reasonable prices. They also host exclusive members only events a couple of times a month such as their Wine Down Wednesdays and every once in awhile a hosted dinner.
The group courses are fantastic. They are not crowded, and I genuinely enjoy my instructors– Brianna for Bollywood (Mondays), Brandy for Afro-​Caribbean Dance (Tuesdays – if I can make it), and, sadly no longer available, Kim for Salsa (formerly Fridays). If I can’t personally get a workout in due to lack of motivation or availability (we’ve been there, right?), I usually opt for a class.
Several things that, really, are mostly a personal wish list and maybe some slight improvements:
I think the bathrooms could be upgraded in terms of the tile and overall styling. I do like that it’s going for the spa-​like feel, and I especially appreciate the vanity area.
Wish they had various sized towels ranging from large to face cloth size ones.
They have spa water by the (free!) coffee towards the entrance of the women’s locker room, but It would be nice if that water was available through the club.
This is a big one for me – extended hours. I wish they stayed open past 10pm. I think they are losing out on a market who can appreciate if they were open a bit longer. I know it would be helpful for me.
Bigger and more comprehensive business center space.
Comprehensive membership. For the price, I was hoping that my membership would include more locations.
Location in Orange County.
***
I know this is a rather long review so I’m hoping you find this helpful. Overall, I would absolutely recommend the Bay Club who is looking for a great quality service to add to their lifestyle. :)

L.A. Bay Club –Howard Hughes is my second home… I love spending as much time as I can there…
The staff is extremely cordial & professional… The equipment has been updated & the pool is the best one in LA… The food is savory especially the daily specials & homemade soups, a real treat after a workout .The locker room is very clean and the new towels are large & absorbent… The outdoor chairs & fireplace are very scenic & comforting in order to chat with friends or just relax… The T. V s are excellent to watch sports or news. There is also outstanding free indoor parking… This Howard Hughes Bay Club has it all… Believe it or not, every few weeks, they even have free California wine tastings –Bravo, Bravo to the staff/​Ed P

I love the monthly social events and I am looking forward to even more changes/​renovations to the club. The lemon water in the lobby is a great touch.
I really enjoy Stephanie’s Pilates Class. Stephanie has a passion for what she does and it definitely comes across in her teaching. This is a group class but it feels more like a one-​on-​one. Stephanie is so meticulous in everything she does that she will re-​roll the previous classes’ yoga mats into perfect «tootsie rolls» and organize the weights by size, all the while watching to make sure each student is doing the exercises in proper form and she will not hesitate to take the time to correct them without missing a beat. I swear she has «eyes in back of her head».
Before taking her class I never knew that I was supposed to hold in my abs ²⁴⁄₇. The ten minutes we spend at the beginning of each class with our backs against the mirror, has taught me what it feels like to have proper alignment/​posture and proper alignment has made me instantly appear thinner, taller, and younger !

I’m not so sure about this gym. I really wanted to like it, because the staff seems very friendly and helpful, but for the price-​tag, I don’t think I’m getting my moneys worth.
One particular thing I feel is important to comment on is the Mat Pilates class I took on Wednesday night. I have done years and years of Pilates both group and personal training, mat and reformer, and I’m fairly certain the class I went to here was not a true Pilates mat class. The instructor spent half the class instructing the students on exercises to do as they were positioned standing, back up against the wall, instead of flat on the mat. It was bizarre, and really not a legitimate Pilates session at all.
For the last fifteen minutes of class, when we were on the mats, the instructor brought us into tabletop but didn’t have us do our «100s» which is standard practice in pilates. Many of the basics of the practice were missing in what was supposed to be a Level 1 class.
Overall, it was an awkward class and given that classes are supposed to be one of the best parts of a high end gym experience, I was very disappointed.
Another thing is that the showers in the women’s locker room are dingy and slightly moldy. Some high end bath products would go a long way given how much membership is.
Again, the staff are very friendly and try their best to please you, but I’m not sure this gym is really «luxury» level yet.

Sadly, today was the last straw. After having been a Spectrum member for over 22 years, I was looking forward to what Bay Club would bring to the table. Their website promises «balancing fitness, sports, hospitality and family – the key pillars of The Bay Club Company’s Four Quadrant Playbook «sounds fancy, huh? And yet,. .. The equipment has always been old, but under Spectrum at least it was always clean. For the 8^th consecutive weekend, I felt the need for a tetanus shot before I would dare use any of the cardio equipment. The wallpaper is peeling, the carpets are filthy, the showers have mildew and often don’t have enough hot water for a shower. Now they are building a new outside social center — right on beautiful Park Terrace where one can chat while listening to the soothing traffic of the 405 — NOT the most important improvement for a gym, but then hey, maybe a great place for people to park their children instead of bringing them on the gym floor where it states with Bay Club logo’s galore — no children under 13 — I waited 25 minutes for someone to clean cardio equipment so I could use it today, watched a six year old girl play on the weight machines, and left the gym with a *have a nice day» salutation by the hostess who did absolutely nothing to make sure I had a good experience at Bay Club. There are many nice gyms in the area who actually care about their members, guess it is time to break up with this one —

The five stars are for the general manager only. I had the good fortune of meeting the general Manager of the Howard Hughes club at my South Bay club. I am so jealous. He is so REAL and is there 100% for the members. These transitions from bay club and the increased dues have been a huge disappointment.
The Advertising is ridiculous. More like deceptive advertising. However anyone considering joining Howard Hughes should meet the manager there. You won’t be disappointed.

So far so good with the new renovations and adding the free coffee and flavored water. Small offerings like that go a long way with the gym. The only thing I hope is that my dues don’t get increased, because I am used to this facility and prefer not to move. All in all the changes are slow but coming and willing to stay for the long haul.

This gym is pretty nice! I had tried Equinox before so had very high standard for gyms and would not look at gyms like 24 hour fitness or LA fitness. This location is very nice and parking is great. great for a nice weekend workout. It is definitely a balance between Equinox and lower end gyms. It is very big and much better than the Santa Monica one.
One thing is I wish they had more modern classes like Barre etc as I saw a lot of the classes on the timetable were like Zumba or Les Mills classes which i have gotten sick of with gyms back in Australia. I guess this was one of things that prevented me from signing up. I’m a big classes person I do not like working out on the machines too much so the classes are a big catch to me.
But a great gym for those who are looking for nice environment, friendly staff and good machines.

I’ve been a member of this club for a few years, it has its good and not-​so-​good points. The staff are very cool and courteous, the machines are always being cleaned, I’ve never seen this gym get crazy crowded no matter what hour I come, the café has great food, the gym draws a more moneyed, professional crowd; the cardio machines have great outdoor views.
The not-​so-​good is that the showers are nasty — outdated, mold, blackened tiles — yuck! The pool was also very dirty the few times I used it (a lot of dirt up on the tiles on the side of the pool where the water hits). Now that Bay Club has taken over hopefully that will be taken care of soon. The correspondence (emails, posters, etc.) feature white people pretty much exclusively. When I walk into my gym I see many different races of people (hallelujah!) but their marketing department is apparently made up of Anglophiles who love and only feature and cater strictly to Bay Club’s white members.
The luxury slant that Bay Club presents isn’t living up to its name in some small but important ways. I’ve attended a function they threw and they served incredibly cheap and unhealthy pasta, sodas, etc (how about a beautiful, delicious salad bar instead?). They also serve free coffee at this gym (how about fresh fruit in water, fresh juices??). This may seem really nitpicky but when a company advertises fitness and health but serves its patrons food and drink that breaks down their bodies and compromises their health just because it’s cheaper than a healthy option, there’s a problem there.

I was just stopping by in town and was craving a gym sesh. I called in ahead to see if they offered free trails or one day passes, which they did. I arrived and everyone I encountered was helpful and friendly. Amanda, the woman in sales, offered me a free trial since it was my first time. She was so kind and definitely the cherry on top to get me to sign up if I do end up moving to LA.
Parking: Go to the structure right next to bay club. They will give you a voucher for the unlimited amount of time you work out. Make sure to park in a designated Bay Club/​Spectrum spot.
Gym: It is organized into sections of free weights, machines, cardio, etc. like most gyms. Everything was clean and organized.
Locker Room: Gorgeous locker room with everything you could need. It is fully stocked with conditioner, lotion, shampoo, towels, make-​up mirrors, showers, etc. so all you really need is a clean change of clothes after you shower. The locker room lady was also very sweet and helpful.
Crowd: Yes, it is a bit of an older crowd. He crowd never bothers me unless they get in the way of my work out. I’m not going to the gym to meet anyone, but get a solid pump in.

I was a member, when it was Spectrum, so I just transitioned over. I loved it back then. I have to say that I do love the improvements i’ve seen thus far. It’s nice to come in and see lemon water. The furnishing details make the experience much more luxurious. I am excited to see what other changes occur in the upcoming months.
From what a few birdies have told me the changes also affect the trainers and I’ve heard positive things. Happy trainers + Staff = Happy Members.

I like this location better than the Water Garden. Not to dis the Santa Monica location, which is great, this is just a much bigger facility and they have a lot more machines. I have yet to come when it’s overly crowded. Which is something I have always liked about Spectrum/​Bay Club.
I’ve been a member here for a long time, but had never been to this location. Even though it’s significantly out of the way for me in every way, I really enjoy this gym. The locker room is great, staff is friendly, it’s very clean and well maintained throughout the entire place. I like that there is a really nice pool with several lanes, although I have yet to use it.
A bigger plus is the Pure Energy café. I missed having this when I worked out at the Palisades location. Their food is excellent. I love being able to finish a workout, put an order in, take a shower and have it be ready as I’m walking out the door.
It seems that nothing has changed (yet) with the Bay Club’s recent takeover of Spectrum. I’ll be curious to see if membership prices will rise as well. I’m paying $ 90 a month. It’s a perfect medium for me to settle between crappy 24 hour fitness and super chic Equinox.

It might be called The Bay Club, but we all know it’s still Spectrum (for now).
For about $ 50/​month less than Equinox (for now, again), The Bay Club is a full service gym that well, feels about $ 50/​month less than Equinox. The towels aren’t as soft, the showers aren’t as nice, equipment isn’t as clean or new, but really, very little of that matters when you’re going to a gym to work out.
While Equinox creates a better space to loiter around, The Bay Club is a big step up from your local 24 Hour Fitness. In addition to being pretty big, the gym has a few things that really set it apart from your typical globo-​gym experience:
— Pool
— Really friendly check-​in staff
— Full service locker room with showers and set-​your-​own-​combo lockers
— Towel service
— Olympic lifting platform with bumper plates and a lifting bar
— A LOT of physical therapy equipment
— TRX classes
— PK’s spin classes (one of the best spin classes in LA without the price of SoulCycle)
— No time limit with validated parking
— Steam rooms
— Kid’s area
Now that The Bay Club took over, there’s a good chance that the game (and prices!) will be raised at the artist formerly known as Spectrum. If you live in Culver City or Westchester and are looking for a full service gym that’s a little nicer than your local 24 Hour Fitness, but don’t want to spend Equinox money, The Bay Club could be just what you’re looking for.

This place is just the Spectrum gym with a new name. Rumors are that Bay Club will be investing in this place so the hope is that this club location can only get better.
I was currently attending this gym during its recent transition from Spectrum to Bay Clubs. Nothing has really changed with regard to the overall gym. I enjoyed getting my workout down in the clean and well maintained strength training areas downstairs. There are a good number of free weights although the Advanced Weight Training can get pretty crowded at times. All the machines I used worked and I didn’t have any problems. I did notice that there are still some recumbent stationary bikes with broken displays and controls. Nothing too jarring or major though. The men’s locker room is not too dirty and was also well maintained. I was able to bring my own lock to lock up my personals during my workout.
I read somewhere that Bay Club will be instituting possible rate increases in June. This is a great gym if you can afford it — I would definitely come back if I could get over the rates and justify the convenience of it being close to my work.