Student living (PBSA) & universities
Biofit supports universities and Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) developers/operators to create wellness and leisure facilities that create appeal, drive user motivation, and enhance long-term asset value. We deliver planning, concept development, interior design, technical specification and pre-opening support for gyms, studios and shared amenity spaces.
Image credit: Fusion Students Brent Cross Town, London (wellness studio)
Our services
Student wellness + leisure facilities we design
Compact gyms with strength & cardio
Functional training areas
Group exercise & mind-body studios
Zen rooms, meditation & workshop spaces
Indoor basketball courts
Gaming rooms
Social wellness amenities
Recovery & regeneration spaces
Multi-site rollouts and standards
Student accommodation portfolios often require repeatable standards that still adapt to varying footprints. Biofit supports multi-site delivery with consistent planning logic, equipment standards, durable finishes strategies and documentation—helping teams scale quality while controlling cost and maintenance requirements.CASE STUDIESBelow are selected university and PBSA projects—showing how Biofit supports both early planning and full design delivery for student gyms and leisure facilities, including multi-site rollouts where consistency and buildability are essential.
Fusion Students, Birmingham, UK (opening 2027)
Image credit: Fusion Students Birmingham
STUDENT LIVING CASE STUDYBackground: This PBSA scheme in Birmingham had a concept design featuring organic colours and patterns combined with wabi-sabi textures in the ground-floor communal spaces. So for our leisure spaces, we continued the theme into the cardio + strength gym on one floor, the functional training gym on another and the indoor sports court, with an adjacent yoga studio.
Role: Gym, spa & wellness consultant
Services: Pre-design planning + concept development + equipment specification + interior design
Key zones: cardio, strength, functional / hybrid training, yoga studio, indoor basketball court
Client: Fusion Students
Timeline: 2024-2025
Fusion Students, Manchester, UK (opening 2026)
Image credit: Fusion Students Manchester
STUDENT LIVING CASE STUDYBackground: The ground-floor spaces design by NEKA Studio already set out a clear path towards a ‘dramatic yet homely, industrial-inspired’ aesthetic. Our role was to align the leisure spaces with this vision.
Role: Gym, spa & wellness consultant
Services: Pre-design planning + concept development + equipment selection + interior design
Key zones: cardio, strength, functional / hybrid training, mobility, yoga studio
Client: Fusion Students Manchester
Timeline: 2025
Fusion Students, Leeds, UK (opening 2026)
Image credit: Fusion Students Leeds
STUDENT LIVING CASE STUDYBackground: An urban-industrial themed student accommodation development reflecting the area’s cultural heritage. As such, our leisure spaces play with darker colour palette, exposed metals and an aspiration aesthetic overall.
Role: Gym, spa & wellness consultant
Services: Pre-design planning + concept development + equipment specification + interior design
Key zones: cardio, strength, functional / hybrid training, mobility, yoga studio
Client: Fusion Students Leeds
Timeline: 2024-25
Carnegie Mellon University Qatar
Image: male students gym by Biofit
UNIVERSITY CAMPUS CASE STUDYBackground: We began working with Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar in 2024 and became their appointed Wellness Design Consultant for 2025-26. As such we design a range of leisure spaces around the building in Doha, from gyms to gaming rooms, music rooms and student lounges. We incorporate sustainable materials and furniture as well as wellness interior design principles into all these spaces to align with the CMU guidelines.
Role: Interior designer
Services: Pre-design planning + concept development + equipment selection + interior design
Key zones: student gyms (male + female), arcade room, e-gaming area, music room, student lounge
Client: Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar
Timeline: 2024-26
Fusion Students Brent Cross Town, London, UK
Image credit: Fusion Students Brent Cross Town
STUDENT LIVING CASE STUDYBackground: A vibrant student accommodation development reflecting its location in a racially diverse corner of London that is already emerging as a creative hub.
Role: Leisure spaces design consultant
Services: Pre-design planning + concept development + equipment selection + interior design
Key zones: indoor basketball court, boxing studio, gym, yoga studio
Client: Fusion Students, Brent Cross Town, London
Timeline: 2023-25
Fusion Students, York, UK
Image credit: Fusion Students York
STUDENT LIVING CASE STUDYBackground: Our brief was to integrate this modestly sized student gym of 70m2 into the rest of the ‘British heritage’ style new-build development in the historic town of York.
Role: Gym, spa & wellness consultant
Services: Pre-design planning + concept development for spa, recovery and gym facilities, including capacity assumptions, zoning logic and early technical coordination inputs for over 2000m2 of wellness facilities in total.
Key zones: functional strength, cardio, stretching
Outcome: A minimal gym space that provides this PBSA scheme with a distinctive selling point, one that will hopefully motivate resident students to stay active every day while they live there.
Client: Fusion Students York
Timeline: 2024-25
Fusion Students, Nottingham, UK
Image credit: Fusion Students Nottingham
STUDENT LIVING CASE STUDYBackground: A nature-inspired student accommodation development leveraging biophilic design for its mental health benefits.
Role: Gym, spa & wellness consultant
Services: Pre-design planning + concept development + interior design + equipment specification
Key zones: Zen wellness room, student gym, indoor basketball court
Outcome: a meditation and workshop space that is a unique selling point for the development, especially for its possible student mental health benefits. The gym is also highly marketable and the indoor basketball court, although petite in scale, was an immediate success with resident students.
Client: Fusion Students Nottingham
Timeline: 2023-25
Karolinska University, Stockholm, Sweden
Image credit: Karolinska Universitet, Health Promotion Unit
UNIVERSITY CAMPUS CASE STUDYBackground: The Health Promotion Unit at Karolinska University in Stockholm wanted to create a completely sustainable micro-gym of just 25m2 converting an under-utilised office space. Rather than offering a comprehensive fitness experience, we were aiming to facilitate ‘movement snacks’ during the work day (or night), a 15-minute stretch session in between course working or simply playing on some rings in a lunch break.
Role: Gym, spa & wellness consultant
Services: Pre-design planning + concept development + interior design + equipment selection + pre-opening support
Outcome: A successful micro-gym that showed what is possible using sustainable materials, avoiding bulky machines and promoting a more playful approach to simply moving for movement’s sake, rather than focusing on complete workouts.
Client: Karolinska Medical University
Timeline: 2025
Why use Biofit for student living (PBSA) or university campus projects?
High-utilisation planning: capacity assumptions and zoning logic designed for peak demand and compact footprints.
Durability-led interiors: materials and detailing developed for heavy daily use and maintenance realities.
Cost and procurement clarity: coordination-ready schedules that support tendering and reliable delivery.
Student experience: intuitive layouts, clear circulation and spaces that support a sense of comfort and safety.
Flexible engagement: appoint Biofit for full design, or as specialist advisors alongside your wider team.
FAQ
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Yes. We support PBSA projects from early planning through design and delivery support, including multi-site rollouts where repeatability and durability are key.
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Student facilities typically have higher peak utilisation, smaller footprints and more intense daily wear. Planning needs to prioritise circulation, robust zoning, clear storage strategy and durable finishes—while still feeling welcoming and aspirational.
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Yes. We plan facilities that integrate recovery and regeneration—such as dedicated recovery zones and touchless therapy suites—alongside traditional fitness and studio provision.
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No. We specify and coordinate requirements independently. Procurement can be handled by the client, contractor or nominated supplier depending on the delivery model. We can also manage procurement for a small fee.
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Ideally before layouts and MEP decisions are fixed. Early involvement allows proper zone planning, realistic equipment footprints, and smoother coordination.
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Yes. We provide readiness planning inputs, service standards alignment, and operational logic so the facility opens smoothly and performs from day one.
Planning a new club, studio or gym?
Share your plans and a short brief. We’ll recommend a practical scope—from concept and design through specification and pre-opening support—tailored to your operator model and member experience goals.