Los Angeles Club Blurs Lines Between Work, Workout, and Social Life

The shift to hybrid and remote work has transformed how and where people spend their days, with some Angelenos now spending as much as 10 hours at the Los Angeles Athletic Club. This private downtown club has evolved into a multifaceted space where members move between laptops, workouts, meals, and social events without leaving the building.

Club director Najeeb Shamsid-Deen noted that some members now dedicate more time to the club than they do at their own homes. This trend accelerated after the pandemic, as members sought alternatives to working from home while retaining the flexibility of remote arrangements. "Maybe you don't want to sit at your dining room table all day," Shamsid-Deen said. The club responded by investing in dedicated coworking spaces, and over half of its new members now have flexible work schedules.

Members describe a blurring of lines between professional and personal life. Caroline Valmont, a member, explained that the club "coalesces the work and the social part." She has conducted meetings and worked remotely from the club, finding it easy to step away for a coffee or a swim before returning to work. Wellington Phillips, another member, detailed a routine that includes a morning workout, several hours of work, a class, time in the sauna, lunch, more work, and then participation in evening events like trivia or karaoke. "So you spent your whole day under one roof," Phillips said.

The club offers a unique environment that member Patrick Rutnam likens to Los Angeles itself, with layered "energies" encompassing athletic areas, quiet library-like rooms, work zones, and social spaces. This integrated approach to daily life comes with a monthly membership fee of approximately $245, plus a joining fee just under $1,000. The club serves over 4,500 members, with about 3,000 actively using the facilities.

Beyond the amenities, members value the sense of community and connection. "The connection really isn't the professional side," Valmont stated. "It's the uniqueness of getting to know somebody and the authenticity of that conversation." Shamsid-Deen echoed this sentiment, suggesting that the club provides a sense of belonging. "All of us want to belong to something," he said. "And I think we check enough boxes that people find a home here." For Rutnam, the club serves as a "second home," fulfilling essential needs in his life.