Fusion York Olympian Gym: 70m² PBSA Gym Design for Student Wellbeing

Biofit designed the 70m² Fusion York Olympian Gym: zoning, space planning, equipment programme, interior finishes and detailed design for contractor delivery. A compact PBSA gym with cardio, strength and stretching zones.

Student accommodation gym interior with treadmills, rowing machine and open stretching area in a compact 70m² layout.

Cardio and mobility zones within the 70m² Fusion York Olympian Gym, planned for clear circulation and high-frequency resident use. Image credit: Fusion York official photograph.

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PROJECT OVERVIEW

Biofit supported Fusion Students with the design of the Olympian Gym at Fusion York—delivering a compact, high-performing fitness amenity that balances premium resident experience with operational durability. The gym was designed as a 70m² space (approx. 14m x 5m), carefully zoned to support multiple user types and training modes without congestion.

Biofit team: Matt Morley (Lead Consultant) with our interior designer Dina Cheliadina.
Wider leisure-space interiors: Kathryn at NEKA Studio (interior concept language that informed the gym aesthetic).

GYM CONSULTANT SERVICES

Resident using indoor bike in student residence gym with mirrored wall, free weights and warm interior finishes.

A compact, premium-feel PBSA gym environment with mirror wall and studio-style lighting for everyday training.

Image credit: Fusion York official photograph.

Scope Of Work

Initial zoning and concept development

Space planning and circulation design

Equipment programme, quantities and layout coordination

Interior design intent and finish direction

Detailed design information for technical delivery by local contractors onsite

GYM PLANNING STRATEGY: CLEAR ZONING IN A MODEST FOOTPRINT

In PBSA, the gym must work for newbies as well as more experienced, confident users alike. Biofit’s layout strategy established three clear zones—each with defined use cases and spatial logic

Strength training zone in student accommodation gym with squat rack, dumbbells and durable flooring.

Strength and functional training zone—rack-based training, free weights and storage planned for safe clearances and shared use.

Image credit: Fusion York official photograph.

Cardio Zone

A focused cardio offer to support everyday, high-frequency use, planned to maintain clear circulation routes and reduce conflicts between moving and static activities.

Strength and functional training zone

A rack-based anchor (for safe, space-efficient compound lifting)

Dumbbells and benches for everyday strength training

A dedicated storage solution to keep functional equipment organised and off the floor

Stretching and mobility zone

A defined stretching / mobility area to support warm-up, cooldown and lower-intensity use—critical in student residences where users have widely varied training confidence.

The general arrangement includes elements such as yoga mats, wall bars, and a soft plyo box, reinforcing that this is a true wellbeing offer rather than an afterthought.

this student accommodation gym combines a vintage heritage aesthetic with a functional training ethic, packing a lot into a modestly sized space

– Matt Aspiotis Morley

fusion students york leisure spaces

Fusion Students York promotional video including gym design by Biofit

GYM Equipment programme

Biofit defined the required equipment mix, quantities and placement to support a balanced training ecosystem. During procurement, the operator value-engineered certain manufacturers for cost reasons; however, the installed solution retained Biofit’s intended equipment mix and layout logic.

Cardio

  • Treadmills (x2)

  • Rowing machine (x1)

  • Indoor bike (x1) 

Strength & functional

  • Half rack / main strength station (x1)

  • Smith machine (x1)

  • Adjustable benches (x2)

  • Dumbbell set with rack (1 set)

  • Weight plates set and collars (set)

  • Barbells (15kg and 20kg)

  • Functional accessories: kettlebells set (6), resistance bands, mobility rollers/blocks, medicine balls (set of 3)

  • Soft plyo box (x1)

  • Storage rack (x1)

Mobility

  • Yoga / mobility mats (x4)

  • Wall bars (x2) + multi-adaptor (x1)

INTERIOR DESIGN

Biofit’s interior direction was designed to feel premium and coherent with Fusion York’’s other ground-floor communal spaces (designed by Neka Studio), while still being hard-wearing and easy to maintain.

Gym floor

Ecore “Heritage Motivate” plank with acoustic underlay (durability + noise control)

Feature wall

brick-effect wall finish (Old White) to add texture and character 

Timber wall panelling

oak-toned finish to warm the space and reinforce a hospitality-grade feel 

Mirrors and wall panels

mirrors set within timber framing / timber wall panels to visually expand the space and support training usability

Lighting detail

warm accent lighting (LED stripe at 3000K) as part of the interior mood and comfort strategy

Ceiling

matt black finish to visually “quiet” services and create a more refined studio-like atmosphere

Technical delivery

Coordinated, contractor-ready information delivered remotely without needing our presence on-site

Fusion York_Technical Drawings_Biofit_003-FP-GF-01.jpg

Technical drawings: General arrangement and planning intent Floorbox locations for connectivity (reducing trailing cables and enabling modern cardio integration) Finishes intent and interfaces (walls, floors, trims) The floorbox plan includes two floor boxes, each with 2 power + 2 data outlets, providing practical infrastructure for connected cardio and tidy operation.

FAQs

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What is a PBSA scheme?

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PBSA stands for Purpose-Built Student Accommodation. It refers to student housing that is specifically designed and constructed for students, rather than converted from another use (such as standard apartments or hotels). PBSA schemes typically combine private bedrooms/studios with shared amenities such as study spaces, social lounges, and wellbeing facilities—helping operators differentiate their offer and improve resident experience.

What is Fusion Students York?

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What size should a student accommodation gym be?

Fusion Students York is a student accommodation property in York operated by Fusion Students. It provides student rooms along with a range of communal spaces and amenities designed to support day-to-day living, social connection, and wellbeing.

Why do PBSA operators invest in gyms and wellbeing amenities?

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Well-designed fitness and wellbeing amenities can:

  • Increase perceived value and support leasing narratives

  • Improve resident satisfaction and retention

  • Encourage healthier routines and social connection

  • Reduce operational friction when properly zoned, durable, and easy to supervise

In compact PBSA gyms, the key success factor is usually space planning and zoning—ensuring cardio, strength, and mobility activities can occur simultaneously without bottlenecks.

What communal leisure facilities does Fusion York offer?

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Fusion Students York promotes a range of communal leisure and lifestyle facilities, including:

  • Gym

  • Games room

  • Cinema room

  • Private dining room

  • Social space

  • Courtyard

  • Study space

  • Roof terrace

What equipment should a small PBSA gym include?

There is no single “correct” size; it depends on resident numbers, brand positioning, and the wider amenity offer. As a practical rule of thumb:

  • Micro gyms (30–50m²): best for cardio + basic functional training, limited free weights

  • Compact gyms (50–90m²): can support cardio + a meaningful strength offer + mobility space (typical for many PBSA schemes)

  • Premium gyms (90–150m²+): allow greater equipment depth, class space, and enhanced resident capacity

What matters most is not just the area, but zoning, clearances, storage, ventilation/cooling capacity, acoustics, and durability.

For a small student accommodation gym, the aim is a balanced programme that serves beginners and regular users, while staying operationally simple. A strong baseline usually includes:

  • Cardio: treadmill(s), bike, rower or cross-trainer (a mix of modalities)

  • Strength: a rack or multi-station anchor, adjustable bench(es), dumbbells with racking, plates and barbells

  • Functional / accessories: kettlebells, resistance bands, medicine balls, mats, mobility tools (rollers/blocks)

  • Mobility zone: clear floor area plus simple wall-based elements (e.g., wall bars)

  • Storage: dedicated racking to prevent clutter and reduce maintenance issues

In compact footprints, the priority is equipment that is space-efficient, robust, and intuitive, with enough open space to keep circulation safe and flexible.

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