A. A. Young
Google
So much history and potential, such a large facility, and so many historic details mixed with an old lineage club......
But if you're in search of a modern, well-maintained gym, this facilty may not be the right fit for you. The gym is interesting in that it is a reflection of new orleans: a mix of run down & delapidated & beautiful jammed together.
The NOAC's New Orleans Mansion-feel derives from its handful of beautiful historic element/rooms which distract from the overall shabbiness of the club. A dingy feel pervades what could be a brilliant gym. For some this is just what the doctor ordered, for others, not so much.
As you enter, the library on your right smacks of old-world wood and leather, with a large classic boardroom table in the center, with complimentary newspapers and soft leather chairs to snuggle down onto, with a few small writing tables and lamps along the front wall.
The upper ballroom has great windows and old bones, but it's got that pervading shabbiness and is used for classes with equipment stuffed along walls.
The bar which is situated in the middle of the club and it's connected lower sitting room/study hall is old-world feeling, but cave-like, as they bricked up the windows, blocking any natural light from entering.
The pool is a small Greek revival affair, but dimly lit to hide its cracked and aging marble whose sharp edges cut the feet feet of a swimmer as they made their way to the pool swimming one day as my guest.
Overall, the building, especially in the rear and upstairs, is slowly crumbling and in need of repair, renovation, and new equipment.
There is a dysfunctional culture in regards to maintenance and getting the details right, which a sea change in maintenance culture would address.
The gym is a mix of old and new, but it struggles to create a consistent, professional, clean, and well-cared-for atmosphere. It frankly feels dark and rundown in several areas, with rusty equipment that needs maintenance. The lighting is also very low at night, especially on the second floor and in the surrounding rooms by the pool and boxing area which is just bizarre. Additionally, there are safety concerns such as slippery tile floors from improper tile used on the men's locker room areas, as well as trip hazards from metal bars on the floor in the upper rear weight room.
While the gym does offer free classes as part of the membership, they are overall in line with the general culture of shabbiness, rather than a high-level professional organization.
A change of management/ownership and a radical intervention are the only things that will transform this club into the grand organization it could be, but for now, this club is perfect for a certain personality and temperament that is happy with the lost grandeur and decadence over all the essentials of a high-quality pro-run gym.
