Wave expansion breaks ground next week

The 4,600 members at The Wave will soon have a bit more elbow room at the popular fitness center.

A 9,200 square-foot expansion to the southwest side of the building was approved last week by Whitefish City Council.

“We’ve outgrown ourselves,” said Lin Akey, speaking on behalf of The Wave board.

The new addition will include a reorganization of the locker rooms, a larger daycare center, an additonal party room and another aerobic room. The expansion also includes two additional family change rooms.

Work will begin this month and is expected to be compleded by early spring 2014. CTA of Kalispell was hired as the architect, and the construction contract was awarded to Martel Construction with offices in Bigfork, Bozeman and Missoula.

An official groundbreaking ceremony is planned June 14 at 5 p.m

This is the second expansion for The Wave. Work was completed in 2007 to add 4,700 square feet to the building to expand the weight room and cycling room and add an exercise room.

The Wave first opened in 2005 and was deeded to the city with the agreement that it would be leased back to The Wave for operation of the fitness center.