THE NEW INCARNATION OF THE OLD ROUSE HEADQUARTERS EMBRACES WELLNESS
STORY BY Barbara Pash
In some ways, Haven on the Lake defies description. The future facility refuses to fit into such neat categories as a gym, spa or yoga studio. Haven combines all three – and more. Columbia Association’s Rob Goldman calls it a mind-body-wellness retreat.
When the association opens Haven on the Lake in late fall 2014, it will be the first facility of its kind in the 
mid-Atlantic, says Goldman, association vice president and project manager. “We think it’s going to be a huge success.”
Haven occupies 30,000 square feet in the former Rouse Company headquarters, overlooking Lake Kittamaqundi in Columbia. The Columbia Association is partnering with The Still Point to provide wellness and skin care services in about 4,600- square feet of that space.
The Howard Hughes Corporation owned the building, designed by renowned architect Frank Gehry in the early 1970s. It underwent a complete renovation before being sold for this reincarnation.
The building’s other tenant – in keeping with the theme of wellness – is a Whole Foods Market that has taken over the upper levels of the three-story building, knocking out portions of the third floor to create a soaring space. As the building sits on a slope leading to the lake, Whole Foods opens to street level, while Haven, below, has access to the waterfront.
The renovation of the former Rouse headquarters is one of the first projects of a 30-year master plan, launched in 2010 to revitalize downtown Columbia. The plan calls for the construction of more than four million square feet of office space, one million square feet of retail space, an improved transportation system and renovation of the Merriweather Post Pavilion. About 5,500 residences will also be added under the plan.
The Columbia Association is familiar with managing gyms, with three fitness/multi-recreational facilities and area yoga studios already under its purview. But this, says Goldman, is unique.
When the association learned that the Hughes Corporation was interested in having a fitness/ wellness facility in the building, to complement the Whole Foods, Goldman says it didn’t hesitate. The association positions itself as leading provider of recreational facilities in Columbia, he says. “And we felt it was important to be in the premier location in downtown.”
The Columbia Association didn’t want to build just any old club, says Goldman. So it turned to ClubIntel, a Dallas, Texas, branding firm that helps private and commercial clubs identify their concept. ClubIntel’s managing partner, Steve Tharrett, conducted a marketing survey among Columbia residents to determine the features people most desired.
As a result, Haven on the Lake’s offerings range from acupuncture to aerial yoga, hot tubs to a Himalayan salt room, tai chi to Turkish steam baths. Movement classes will be held in three different studios, one with a yoga wall outfitted with straps for inversions. There’s a hot tub overlooking the lake in an area called the “healing environment.” Whole Foods is operating an on-premises café, and child care is available for Haven users.
“There’s nothing like it in the surrounding area of Columbia, Baltimore and Washington, D.C.,” says Tharrett. The concept takes features from other facilities for the Haven mix. “People felt it would fit the Columbia business model,” he adds.
Marla Peoples agrees. “Haven is a one-of-kind facility,” says co-owner of The Still Point.
“We expect to draw customers not only from Columbia but from Baltimore, Washington, D.C. and Annapolis.”
The Still Point was one of several companies that competed to operate the wellness component of Haven on the Lake. The wellness center already had sites in Takoma Park and nearby Clarksville; Haven, its third site, says Peoples, will be its largest.
“Because of its size, we can offer more under one roof. We will be bringing in additional services” not found at its two other sites, she says. The Still Point will offer acupuncture, naturopathic medicine and nutrition counseling along with skin care and massage for women and men. Peoples is hiring about 50 employees to staff Still Point’s Haven site.
When Columbia Association took possession of the future facility this past March, it got a renovated, but empty, space. Goldman says the association is spending $3.5 million to create Haven, with the help of two architecture firms, George Vaeth Architecture, in Columbia, and Essenza Architectus, in Denver.
“There was a clear message from the community about the type of facility it wanted. We put it all under one roof,” Goldman says of Haven. “This is going to be a popular building.”
When the facility opens its doors in late fall 2014, it will indeed be a haven. Right on the Lake.*
Membership
Haven on the Lake is offering four membership levels, ranging from access to the healing environments and/ or access to classes and spa services and up to all-inclusive membership. The Haven monthly fee also depends on membership in other Columbia Association facilities and Columbia residency or not. There will be day rates but they have not yet been set.
For current members of the association’s package plan plus, membership at Haven will be an extra $10, $89, $109 or $175 per month depending on membership level. For new Haven members, the prices for Columbia Association residents are $50, $122, $129 and $215 per month; for non-residents, they are $70, $132, $159 and $245 per month.
