Solent University, UK, opens sports and fitness complex as part of £100m investment plan
Solent University, UK, has officially opened its new £28m sports and fitness centre.
The centre houses two sports halls, three gyms and an indoor cycling studio. There are also two exercise studios, a physiotherapy treatment room and a dedicated basketball centre – one of only two of its kind in the UK.
The university worked with Pulse Fitness on the design of the new facility, which is part of an ongoing £100m estate development plan, designed to upgrade Solent’s East Park Terrace (EPT) campus.
The gyms include a high-performance facility for the university’s elite athletes, a dedicated teaching facility to be used by the university’s sports degree students and a 90-station gym for community use.
The community-use gym is home to an innovation area and to encourage collaboration and innovation, Sports Science students at the university will be invited to contribute ideas for future equipment and technology design and development.
“The new sports facility marks a new era for our university,” said Martin Nailor, head of sport for Solent University.
“For us, this is about providing a fantastic experience for all our students, particularly those on our sports science programmes, and we wanted to ensure everyone feels involved.
Southampton Solent has been investing in its architecture as part of a policy to improve the built environment for students.
Its Spark Building, designed by Scott Brownrigg, won the Best Student Experience category at the Education Estates Awards in 2017.
The building was recognised for having a game-changing design and for creating a ‘mixed economy’ of teaching and learning spaces which enable staff and students to see and share learning and teaching experiences, knowledge and research.
Solent University Pulse Fitness