Carnegie Mellon University Qatar Student Gyms, Doha
Two compact campus gyms designed for daily student use
Biofit was appointed to develop the concept, spatial strategy, interior design and equipment specification for two new student gyms and an arrival area at Carnegie Mellon University Qatar in Doha.
The project involved the design of two separate gyms of approximately 50 m² each, one for male students and one for female students, together with a shared entrance zone. Our role covered pre-planning, concept development, interior design to schematic design stage, and equipment specification, after which the project was handed over locally to SALAM in Doha for fit-out implementation. The design package included general layout, floor finishes, ceiling layouts, wall elevations and wall finish drawings.
The brief was to create high-quality, highly functional student fitness spaces within a limited footprint, while giving each gym its own distinct identity and atmosphere.
CMU-Q student gym design by Biofit
PROJECT OVERVIEW
Client: Carnegie Mellon University Qatar
Location: Doha, Qatar
Sector: University / Higher Education
Project type: Student fitness facilities / campus gyms
Size: 2 x 50 m² gyms + shared entrance area
Gym areas: Male gym 51 m²; Female gym 51.6 m²
Year: 2024
Scope: Pre-planning, concept development, interior design to schematic design, equipment specification
Implementation: Handed over to local fit-out team in Doha
The Brief
Carnegie Mellon University Qatar wanted to create two compact but premium-feeling student gyms that would support regular exercise on campus without requiring a large footprint. These were deliberate upgrades of the existing gyms with equipment that was clearly dated and below brand standards for a premium campus like CMU-Q.
The key challenge was not simply to fit equipment into two small rooms. It was to make each gym feel intentional, motivating and architecturally coherent, while still meeting core fitness needs for cardio, strength and functional training.
The project also needed to respond to the local campus context, with separate male and female facilities and a design language that felt contemporary, durable and appropriate for a university environment.
Our design approach
Biofit approached the project as a pair of small-format but high-impact campus gyms.
From the outset, the emphasis was on quality over quantity: fewer pieces of equipment, but carefully selected; compact rooms, but spatially efficient; bold interiors, but with enough restraint to remain durable and buildable.
The design strategy worked across three levels:
1. Efficient planning
Each gym had to work hard within roughly 50 m², so equipment mix, circulation and sightlines were carefully controlled.
2. Distinct identities
Rather than creating two identical rooms, we developed two separate interior concepts: a lighter, softer, warmer female gym and a darker, slicker, more dramatic male gym, with a shared entrance area tying the project together.
3. Schematic design ready for handover
The design package was developed to schematic design level, enabling local fit-out coordination in Doha by Salam Enterprises. The issued drawing were design intent drawings, with main contractor shop drawings to follow for final procurement and installation on-site.
Scope of services
space planning
design intent drawings for contractor handover
Layout & planning
The uploaded floor plan shows the two gyms arranged side by side, each with a footprint a little over 7 metres deep and around 7 metres wide, forming two compact but workable training rooms connected to a shared entrance space.
These were the key elements for both training areas (with equipment supplied by Technogym)
Male gym: treadmill, Skillrow, dumbbell rack, bench, Dual Adjustable Pulley, leg extension/curl, lower back bench, plyobox and Technogym screen
Female gym: treadmill, rower, Artis Climber, Dual Adjustable Pulley, bench, leg press, dual abductor/adductor, Skilltools kit, plyobox and Technogym screen
Shared entrance: green wall with neon signage, round mirror, floor lamp, water dispenser and pendant lighting
This made the project more than a pair of basic equipment rooms. It became a compact campus wellness zone with a clear arrival sequence and distinct interior personality.
Shared entrance concept
The entrance area was designed as a small but elevated arrival space, helping the project feel more premium than its footprint might suggest.
Key design features here included:
a biophilic (green) wall (the client chose an artificial option, for minimal operational impact)
backlit ‘GYM’ arrival signage
low-maintenance (live) planting in steel-clad planter boxes
a small pre- / post-workout seating area
This entrance zone helped soften the transition into the gym spaces and gave the student facility a stronger hospitality feel as well as serving as a signpost for students passing by in the main corridor (addressing an issue with the gym being somewhat hidden within the campus building).
Female student gym concept
The women’s gym was developed around a lighter, softer and warmer atmosphere, using beige finishes, amber accent lighting and rounded acoustic ceiling elements.
Key features included
circular acoustic ceiling panels
gym flooring in rolls
mirror walls
neon signage / CMUQ branding
natural clay plaster on walls
stainless steel wall panels
amber LED lighting
Overall, the room was designed to feel calm, bright and contemporary, while still accommodating a serious mix of cardio and strength equipment.
Male student gym concept
The men’s gym was conceived with a darker, more performance-led identity, using cooler tones, darker plaster, blue lighting and a more stripped-back visual language.
Key features included:
neon signage /CMUQ branding
natural clay plaster on walls
stainless steel wall panels
mirrors with LED strip lights
acoustic ceiling panels
gym flooring rolls
This created a more intense, performance-oriented atmosphere without departing from the overall architectural logic of the project.
Equipment strategy
The equipment mix was carefully calibrated for the available footprint and user profile to include:
treadmill
rower
climber
Dual Adjustable Pulley
leg press
dual abductor/adductor
bench
Skilltools kit (functional training accessories)
plyobox
yoga mats
Technogym Visio / TV screen
The male gym included:
treadmill
Skillrow
dumbbell rack with 2.5 kg–30 kg dumbbells
benches
Dual Adjustable Pulley
Chest Press
lower back bench
plyobox
Technogym Visio screen
Technical coordination and handover
As with Biofit’s other university projects, our role extended beyond moodboards and design intent visuals.
The schematic package included:
general layout
floor finish plan
ceiling plan
wall finishing layout
gym wall elevations
entrance wall elevations
These drawings were explicitly issued as design intent only, with contractor coordination, clash checking and shop drawings required in the next phase. That made the package appropriate for handover to the local Doha team for fit-out execution. zz
Outcome
The Carnegie Mellon University Qatar student gyms show how relatively small campus fitness rooms can be transformed into well-resolved, high-quality wellness spaces through disciplined planning and a strong interior concept.
Rather than overfilling the rooms, Biofit focused on:
a clear and efficient equipment mix
distinct visual identity for each gym
stronger arrival experience
buildable schematic-level design documentation
a balance between fitness performance and architectural quality
The result was a pair of campus gyms designed not as generic utility spaces, but as compact, branded student amenities aligned with the wider quality of the university environment.
our vision with these student gyms was to provide an entry-level initiation for students with minimal fitness experience, or for those looking for a quick workout solution on campus, likely in between study sessions. – Matt Aspiotis Morley
Frequently Asked Questions
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The project included two separate student gyms of approximately 50 m² each, with the issued drawings identifying the spaces as 51 m² and 51.6 m².
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No. Biofit delivered the project through schematic design and equipment specification, after which it was handed over to a local team in Doha for implementation.
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No. The two gyms were planned to similar scale but with different equipment mixes and different design identities, including a lighter pink-accented female gym and a darker blue-accented male gym.
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The shared entrance helped create a more premium student experience through a green wall, neon signage, planting, mirror and seating-style elements, rather than treating the gyms as purely utilitarian rooms.
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It shows how universities can deliver small but high-value fitness amenities on campus without requiring the footprint of a full leisure club, while still maintaining a strong design identity.
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Because many universities, offices and residential developers now want compact, flexible wellness spaces that promote movement, stress reduction and mental reset without requiring the area or budget of a large gym.
If you’re planning a gym, spa, or wellness club and want a delivery strategy that protects design intent through construction, contact us via email here or the form below.
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