Worldgate Athletic Club & Spa is reopening this week after roughly $4 million in renovations.
The club, which is located at 13037 Worldgate Drive, has upgraded its fitness equipment and added a boxing studio and a system to its indoor tennis program.
The facility also includes video-on-demand cycling, pickleball, an upgraded indoor track, and a new recovery zone.
A golf stimulator by Foresight Sports — called AcuTennis — was also included in the upgrades, allowing users to practice the game with customizable options. The feature has been added to all courts and allows users to access instant replays and control the court through mobile devices.
Here’s more from the company on the renovation:
Worldgate Athletic Club & Spa’s recent multi-million dollar renovation has transformed the three-level facility into a one-stop shop for living well. The club offers 110,000 square feet of fitness, aquatics, tennis, spa and wellness amenities. From state-of-the-art equipment to a large gymnasium to all new locker rooms to a full kid’s club, Worldgate Athletic Club & Spa is amenity-rich. Expert personal trainers, group exercise instructors and spa therapists offer the latest in well-balanced health.
The club is owned by DC-based property management company Rapport and managed by Maryland-based club management company WTS International.
“We’re so excited to showcase the renovated club,” said Gary D. Rappaport, CEO of Rappaport, owners of Worldgate. “As one of the largest clubs in the D.C. region, it was important for us to provide the latest in fitness technology and workout trends. Members, and the community, should be excited to see the new additions. It is a state-of-the-art fitness club and spa that offers everything.”
Photo courtesy Worldgate Club & Spa
The Town of Herndon is seeking roughly $4.6 million in regional funds for planned improvements at the future intersection of Herndon Parkway and Worldgate Drive.
The $6.5 million project includes a new traffic signal at the intersection and the addition of a new dedicated turning lane, according to a staff memo.
The lanes, cycle tracks and sidewalks would connect with ongoing projects at the Herndon Parkway and Van Buren intersection and at the bus bay drop off and pick-up area, according to the application.
The new road will include a fore-lane divided road with eight-foot-wide sidewalks, a 10-foot trail and sidewalk lighting.
At a meeting tomorrow, Herndon’s Town Council will consider submission of the application to the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority for its FY26-FY27 regional funding program.
The town anticipates that the final engineering and construction of the project will be financed through private development.
The Town of Herndon’s Metrorail Herndon Station Area Plan identified the areas as a transit-oriented core where the project is deemed of critical importance, according to the town’s capital improvements plan.
The Worldgate Drive Extension is a keystone infrastructure improvement for the Herndon Transit-Oriented Core as included in the Metrorail Station Area Plan,’ the plan states.
The council approved a concept plan for the project in 2017.
Worldgate Athletic Club & Spa is getting a multi-million-dollar facelift that will include a full interior redesign and the addition of new equipment, property owner Rappaport announced this morning (Tuesday).
The renovation of the 110,000 square-foot fitness facility in Herndon’s Worldgate Centre shopping complex is currently underway, according to the club’s website.
According to Rappaport, the work is expected to be completed by October. The facility will remain open throughout the renovation process, and Worldgate will offer “special packages” to new members who join while construction is ongoing, including an $80 discount on new memberships this July.
“As the anchor of our Worldgate Centre property, this fitness facility will continue to be a hub for the community and focal point for the overall retail, entertainment, and lifestyle experience of this premier destination,” Rappaport CEO Gary D. Rappaport said in a press release.
Overseen by WTS International, which took over management of the fitness center in February, the renovation will update the interior and flooring while introducing new weight and cardio equipment, including treadmills, ellipticals, stationary bicycles, an interactive rower, and a golf simulator.
Planned new facilities include a boxing studio and a recovery zone. The existing turf training space will be expanded, and the indoor track will get an upgrade.
Under the new management team, Rappaport says in its press release that the renovation will also enable the fitness center to expand its program offerings with “new classes and digital support will be offered to better serve the club members around the clock”:
Designed to complement the wide range of existing services, club members and guests will enjoy enhanced programming features such as virtual fitness solutions, including an on-demand workout library, a member app with class registration, and various virtual events. In addition, Worldgate Athletic Club & Spa will also offer wellness packages, updated spa services, signature fitness programs, and nutritional coaching to boost performance — taking a holistic approach to health and wellness.
Opened in 1988, Worldgate Athletic Club & Spa currently houses an indoor track, a 25-yard swimming pool with six lap lanes, and courts for tennis, squash, racketball, basketball, and volleyball.
“Worldgate is an amazing fitness facility that will be even more special once the renovation is complete,” WTS Senior Vice President of Fitness Chris Griebe said. “The enhancements will draw more clients but just as importantly will strengthen the greater Herndon community. With our deep experience, we are excited to help lead these exciting changes.”
Virginia to Lift All Capacity Restrictions on June 15 — If COVID-19 cases continue to decline, Gov. Ralph Northam will lift all remaining capacity limits on businesses on June 15, as suggested last week. He has not decided whether to extend the state of emergency set to expire on June 30, a move that would be necessary to keep mask requirements in place. [WTOP]
Anti-War Activist Disrupts General Dynamics Meeting — The co-founder of the anti-war group CodePink disrupted General Dynamics’ annual shareholder meeting in Reston earlier this week, accusing the company of contributing to war, particularly in Yemen, by selling weapons to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and other countries. General Dynamics’ CEO called the comments “potentially libelous and incorrect.” [Common Dreams]
Town Center Parkway Study Comments Due Today — Friday (May 7) is the deadline for the public to provide feedback on the Virginia Department of Transportation’s study of the feasibility of extending Town Center Parkway under the Dulles Toll Road. Comments can be shared via mail, email, or online survey. [VDOT NOVA/Twitter]
Herndon Company to Launch Satellites — Black Sky announced yesterday (Thursday) that it will deploy two more satellites on May 15 as part of an ongoing mission to launch nine “high-resolution multi-spectral” satellites by the end of 2021. The move will allow the company to expand its satellite network as it prepares to go public. [Business Wire]
Cicadas Spotted in Reston — “Based on some pretty sophisticated data analytics (on the four reported sightings), we can conclude that like Realtors, Brood X apparently prefers fashionable North Reston by a (checks supercomputer) three-to-one margin.” [Restonian]
Worldgate Fitness Facility Affiliate Owner Declares Bankruptcy — Sport and Health Virginia Properties filed for bankruptcy in Alexandria on April 22, about two months after the company had its lease for the Worldgate Sport & Health fitness facility in Herndon terminated. The Worldgate facility is now under new management and has been renamed the Worldgate Athletic Club & Spa. [Washington Business Journal]
Photo via vantagehill/Flickr
Worldgate Athletic Club & Spa, a fitness facility at Worldgate in Herndon, has changed management companies, moving from Sport & Health to WTS International.
The news come after a note sent by the former management that the facility was “being forced to permanently close its doors” immediately caused some confusion among members.
On Monday (Feb. 15) afternoon, a note from the “Sport & Health Management Team” was sent to members saying that “unbeknownst” to them the landlord has “decided to terminate its lease with the club owner and take possession of the space.”
Due to this, the club was closing that day.
“We are equally shocked by what has transpired,” the note continues which was subsequently posted on their website.
However, RAPPAPORT – which owns the Worldgate shopping center – confirms to Reston Now that isn’t exactly the case.
In a press release provided Tuesday night, Worldgate’s landlord announced that WTS International has taken over as the management company of its “state-of-the-art fitness facility at Worldgate Centre in Herndon, VA.”
“We’re excited to have WTS International oversee the management and operations for Worldgate Athletic Club & Spa,” Gary D. Rappaport, CEO, wrote in the release. “WTS International is known for its expertise in fitness management and award-winning spas, and we are confident in their plans to elevate the Worldgate Athletic Club & Spa as a luxury brand and create incredible value for members within the communities that we serve.”
In a follow-up email, a RAPPAPORT spokesperson says that the confusion came down to the previous management not being aware of the tenant’s and landlord’s contractual decision making.
In 2014, McLean-based US Fitness bought Sport & Health. One of the clubs Sport & Health was managing at the time was the fitness facility at Worldgate.
The spokesperson also says that due to a contractual relationship between US Fitness and the tenant, Rappaport was unable to continue using Sport & Health as the management company.
It has nothing to do with the performance of the management company, the spokesperson reiterated. The club remains financially successful and one of the biggest fitness facilities in the area, they noted.
There was no delay in transition. On Sunday night, the facility closed for the day under Sport & Health management and reopened normal time on Monday under WTS International management.
As of the moment, the facilities and amenities remain the same as they were under Sport & Health.
Reston Now has reached out to Sport & Health to ask about the confusion, but has yet to hear back as publication.
What this means for members is that they have a choice.
According to Sport & Health’s note to members, all memberships for the Worldgate location are being upgraded to allow access to all 27 area locations which are owned by the same company. This includes ALL Onelife Fitness, Sport & Health and Crunch Fitness. Half of February’s dues are also being refunded to members.
For those who would like to stay at the Worldgate facility, WTS says they will “honor all current membership rates from the previous management for those who sign up.”
They are also recruiting trainers, instructors, therapists, and other staff and are hosting a job fair today (Wed, Feb. 17) 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
The Worldgate fitness facility first opened more than 30 years ago, in 1988, making it one of the oldest in the area.
Gyms and fitness facilities are allowed to be open with limited capacity under Virginia COVID guidelines. Employees and patrons at gyms are required to wear masks, but not while exercising.
Full release from Rappaport and WTS International is below:
Rappaport is pleased to announce that WTS International is the management company for its state-of-the-art fitness facility at Worldgate Centre in Herndon, VA. Headquartered in Rockville, MD, WTS International is the world’s leading spa, wellness, and lifestyle consultancy and management firm. Under WTS, there will be new offerings and enhancements for one of the largest and most successful clubs in the D.C. metro area, Worldgate Athletic Club & Spa.
“We’re excited to have WTS International oversee the management and operations for Worldgate Athletic Club & Spa,” says Gary D. Rappaport, CEO of Rappaport. “WTS International is known for its expertise in fitness management and award-winning spas, and we are confident in their plans to elevate the Worldgate Athletic Club & Spa as a luxury brand and create incredible value for members within the communities that we serve.”
WTS International will bring its 47+ years of extensive fitness industry experience to the property which, is already an amenity-rich health club. WTS International has provided consulting and management services for over 300 spas, fitness/wellness centers, leisure and lifestyle facilities worldwide including Four Seasons, Westin, and InterContinental. Their clients include some of the most luxurious fitness and wellness brands such as VERDURE in Amarillo, Texas, Brooklyn Sports Club in Brooklyn, New York, and Manhattan Plaza Health Club in New York, New York.
Club members and guests will enjoy enhanced programming features such as virtual fitness solutions, including an on-demand workout library, a member app with class registration, and various virtual events. In addition, Worldgate Athletic Club & Spa will also offer wellness packages, updated spa services, signature fitness programs, and nutritional coaching to boost performance – taking a holistic approach to health and wellness.
This is designed to complement the wide range of existing facilities, including three indoor tennis courts, an indoor track, squash and racquetball courts, a full basketball and volleyball court, a 25-yard swimming pool, and spa and wellness amenities. At almost 110,000 square feet, Worldgate Athletic Club & Spa is the premier, luxury fitness club in Herndon, VA, with modern equipment, a large gymnasium with all new locker rooms, showers, steam rooms, private/family changing rooms, and complimentary towel service.
“WTS International is thrilled to bring elevated fitness to the new Worldgate Athletic Club & Spa. Our vast experience managing commercial and community fitness centers and world-class spa and lifestyle properties will bring a new emphasis on innovative services, digital experiences, and expanded wellness programs to members,” says Chris Griebe, Senior Vice President, Fitness.
Smooth transition
Customers can rest assured that Worldgate Athletic Club & Spa will honor all current membership rates from the previous management for those who sign up. All operating hours (including spa, fitness and aquatics) will remain the same. Furthermore, partnerships with Blue Chip Sports Management and Personal20 will also continue as before. WTS International is actively recruiting the best trainers, instructors, therapists, and operations staff in the area and is hosting a job fair at the club Tuesday, February 16th and Wednesday, February 17th, noon to 6pm.For career opportunities, visit. www.wtsinternational.com.
Worldgate Athletic Club & Spa membership benefits include access to virtual programming, training, and nutritional consultation, as well as 15% off all spa services. All new members can join for $29 with no dues until March 1st, one complimentary fitness consultation, and one personal training session. To join, visit www.worldgateathleticclubandspa.com/join.
Photo courtesy of Rappaport Management Company
Herndon officially has one less Starbucks location.
As of Dec. 27, the location at 13035A Worldgate Drive in Worldgate Centre shuttered its doors.
A spokesperson for Starbucks told Reston Now that the location was closed as part of a “standard course of business” that aims to ensure a “health store portfolio.”
“We look forward to continuing to serve the Herndon community and encourage our customers to visit us at our other stores in the area,” the spokesperson wrote.
Coffee lovers can still enjoy coffee at Weird Brothers, which has a location at 12825 Worldgate Drive in the Worldgate Metro Office Park. Starbucks also has other nearby locations at Village Center and on Elden Street.
Reston Company Lists Millions in Liabilities –‘A Reston-based corporate housing provider owed nearly $90 million to a wide range of creditors from across the country before filing for bankruptcy late last month, including the owners of the Apartments at CityCenter and the 672 Flats in Ballston, representatives for the company disclosed in court documents filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Alexandria on Friday.’ [Washington Business Journal]
Business Robbed on Worldgate Drive — A business on the 1300 block of Worldgate Drive was robbed around noon on Thursday, Dec. 17. The subject entered the business and stole cash. [Herndon Police Department]
Fox Mill Road Closed in Both Directions — The road is closed between Lawyers Road and Steeplechase Drive due to a fallen tree on utility lines. [Fairfax County Police Department]
Photo by Marjorie Copson
A cybersecurity company that was founded in Virginia has announced plans to expand in the Town of Herndon, according to a release by Gov. Ralph Northam.
Expel, Inc. will expand its headquarters at 12950 Worldgate Drive, creating 164 new jobs in engineering, customer experience, IT, marketing and sales team over the next three years.
“There’s a fantastic pool of tech talent location in Northern Virginia, and we have close proximity to strong education institutions and major tech companies,” said Dave Merkel, Expel’s CEO.
The company, which is investing $1.4 million in the expansion, offers managed security on-premises and in the cloud, including 24/7 monitoring through security operations using security tools that customers already have.
The expansion was made possible through the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, which provides consultancy and funding services to help companies create new jobs.
Here’s more from Northam’s office:
“Virginia has emerged as a national leader in cybersecurity and continues to be at the forefront of workforce development in this rapidly-evolving industry, thanks to companies like Expel, Inc.,” said Governor Northam. “We are thrilled to support this homegrown Northern Virginia business as they grow and expand and look forward to their ongoing success in Herndon.”
“Herndon and the 86th District continues to attract tech companies and workers of all backgrounds because we work hard to create economic growth while maintaining an accessible community and excellent quality of life,” said Delegate Ibraheem Samirah. “I’m excited to see the growing tech center in Herndon and hope that it solidifies Herndon’s position as the best place to live and work in the Commonwealth.”
“I am proud to see that the Town of Herndon continues to attract and retain the best and brightest companies like Expel, Inc.,” said Senator Jennifer Boysko. “Working to recruit a diverse and talented workforce continues to strengthen our robust economy. I welcome Expel Inc.’s expansion in the 33rd Senate District.”
Image via Google Maps
Local police are looking for a male suspect involved in a robbery at a business on the 1300 block of Worldgate Drive.
Officials from the Herndon Police Department said the business was robbed at around 3:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 6. Police did not disclose the name of the business.
Surveillance video shows that a man entered the business through a back door and took cash from two registers. There were no signs of forced entry.
A description for the suspect has not been issued. The case is under investigation.
File photo
Forcepoint Federal, a company owned by defense contractor Raytheon and private equity firm Vista Equity Partners, has signed a lease for the Monument II building on Worldgate Drive in Herndon.
The global security company will lease more than 46,000 square feet.
EDGE Commercial Real Estate, a commercial real estate firm, represented the landlord, Washington REIT, in the transaction. In a release, the company issued the following statement about the lease:
“The extremely large concentration of high-quality businesses contained within the Herndon, Dulles, Reston, Chantilly and Sterling sub-markets, each of which is accessed via a modern transportation network, makes this building the perfect choice for Forcepoint,” explained Scott Rabin of EDGE Commercial Real Estate. “This location is also convenient for the company’s many clients associated with the Federal Government, with offices throughout the greater metropolitan Washington, D.C. region. Monument II is an extremely high-profile building that matches the integrity and professionalism of Forcepoint.”
Monument II is located in Worldgate Centre, which is located at 13025 Worldgate Drive.
Map via Google Maps
Nestled away in Sport and Health at Worldgate Drive is a fitness studio with a surprising twist on exercising:Â Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS).
Co-founded by Connie and Pedro Ruiz, Personal20 started as an EMS franchise in Portugal before it came to the United States in 2017. The Herndon location at 13037 Worldgate Drive is the only one in the country, although that might change as Connie Ruiz eyes new markets for a possible expansion.
This is how it works: clients don special suits with 10 pairs of electrodes that provide electrical stimulation to the muscles as they work out for 20 minutes. During the sessions, the muscles feel tingly and prickly sensations.
The workouts, which are delivered by certified personal trainers or physiotherapists, are customizable to clients’ goals, ranging from weight loss to minimizing back pain issues. Personal20 claims the technology provides all of the benefits of a 90-minute workout in 20 minutes.
Ruiz told Reston Now that most of the prospective clients find out about Personal20 either through Sport and Health or from current clients. While “Electro Fitness” is a novelty in the U.S., Ruiz said that it has gained popularity in Europe, where professional soccer team athletes and celebrities have brought attention to EMS training.
Reston Now caught up with Ruiz to find out the details behind why “Electro Fitness” landed in Herndon.
Reston Now: Why Herndon?
Connie Ruiz: The demographics supported the brand positioning as a premium service for those with disposable income who are busy working executives and professionals who value exercise but are challenged with time.
RN:Â How many people can you accommodate now with the two stations per day?
CR: We can service about 28 trainings a day with our two stations. We just now have started considering a third station for the first semester of the year.
RN: Can you describe the very first time you tried electro fitness?
CR: The very first time I tried it was in Europe, after my husband wanted to start the concept however I was initially resistant. When I tried it, I gave up all my other exercise and only did Electro Fitness once a week. After the one month workout (four visits), I was amazed at the results. I got definition in my arms that I never had before and I even lost a couple of pounds.
RN: What’s your favorite part of the training?
CR: The effectiveness in a short time. I love that I can do a 20-minute workout only twice a week and see body shape change and definition. I can even do one a week for maintenance.
RN: What keeps people coming back?
CR: The common thread that keeps people coming back is the effectiveness of the technology. It really does deliver all the benefits of a 90-minute workout in only 20 minutes. Also, the clients enjoy the experience as that is what we focus on delivering.
Photos courtesy of Personal20
Three women have told Herndon Police that an unknown man exposed himself to them on Sunday.
All incidents took place in the vicinity of Worldgate Drive and Elden Street during a 45-minute span midday on March 13, police said.
One victim told police she was approached from behind by the suspect who, after gaining her attention by speaking to her, touched her on her buttocks. The suspect then walked past the victim, turned around, and exposed himself., police said.
Police said it was third such report that afternoon.
The suspect is described as a black male approximately 5’10” to 6 foot, with a slim-to-athletic build, with facial hair. The case is under investigation, police said.
