Based in the heart of London, it is part of the LBSU Group comprises South Bank Academies, South Bank Colleges, South Bank Enterprises and London South Bank University. The Group works to one vision and seeks to deliver a holistic solution to the educational needs of communities and business both locally and globally. The university welcomes a large portion of its students from local neighbourhoods, and is an important source of support for local residents too.
When LBSU embarked on a major renovation of its campus, one of the key drivers was making the buildings, equipment, and offers as accessible as possible to the greatest number of people.
Alan Taylor, Head of Sport & Recreation for LSBU Active told us how the new gym and leisure space is reinforcing the department’s mission to inspire student and community development through physical activity.
“Over the space of 3 years, we have completely renovated the existing space,” he explained. “The library, refectory, gym and sport services were previously in 9 different buildings. We have brought everything together at one site as the LSBU Hub with user experience at its core.”
It was important that LSBU Active created the right space and relevant offers to engage a wide range of users, from staff and community, to first timers, sports clubs and high-performance athletes.
“Student wellbeing is always at the forefront of our thinking, but after Covid it took on a new importance,” said Alan. “We know that sport and physical activity can foster a sense of belonging, and this is a big part of what we want for the student body.”
As the renovation opened, LSBU looked at ways it could support and add value. All students were given free membership to the gym. The space is open to staff, students, and members of the community, a move which supports local activity levels and helps students create important networks outside of their cohort.
LSBU Active partnered with Technogym to create an accessible space full of best-in-class equipment, all supported by a flexible digital offer that could adapt and keep pace with the needs of the student body.
“The partnership with Technogym has been first class,” said Alan. “Without their expertise and guidance, we wouldn’t have the facility we’ve got. We consider them a trusted partner and know they have the innovation and research to support us as our needs inevitably change and grow.”
A 650m sq gym space for students, staff, and community
LSBU Active’s new gym is set over a one level, making it easier for users to transition smoothly between zones for a streamlined workout. The gym features three areas (cardio, resistance, and free weights) with two studios and a separate Skill Room, kitted out with Technogym Skill Line equipment. The group cycle studio uses Technogym digital content so users have the opportunity of an instructor-led experience, or streamed and on-demand session in their own time.
Live and on-demand to maximise studio use
The innovative Skill Room is kitted out with cutting-edge Technogym Skill Line products including Skillmill, Skillrow and Skillbike plus Technogym Bench. This space gives members the opportunity to use innovative equipment in a quick and effective format, and caters for experienced users who enjoy HIIT.
“Time is a barrier to students being active, and the Skill Line helps us show students that they can get a really good workout in less time,” said Alan. “The design and functionality of the equipment is a massive draw. By putting it in a separate room we can promote the benefits.”
In the gym, Alan and his team chose Technogym Excite Live cardio kit, which allows members to access coaching content and guided workouts. The range of apps on the equipment and easy to use set up means this area is one of the most popular in the new gym.
For the strength area, LSBU Active wanted all members to have access to a high-performance environment. This is key for elite athletes, but equally important to those less familiar with strength training. Technogym strength kit helped Alan and the team create a welcoming high-performance area that looks great.
Digital support for blended delivery
Technogym mywellness has been a core element of the project, helping LSBU Active blend in person, on demand, and virtual delivery. It acts as a one-stop shop for members to access content, making it easy for them to continue their fitness activities at other LSBU sites where live streaming is on offer.
“We are really excited about developing our fitness offer through mywellness,” said Alan. “Using Prescribe and Stream we can help students engage with fitness regardless of where they are. It ties in with our hybrid approach to teaching and supports the experience we want to create for students.”
Mywellness helps LSBU staff, too, bringing together every software need on one platform so the team no longer need to use fragmented bits of software for different business tasks. Mywellness has integrated LBSU’s CRM, onboarding tasks, and even offers users activity tracking so they only need one app.
With the success of the reopening, LSBU Active are now looking to roll the benefits of blended delivery across its sites to make physical activity a key part of all students’ lives.
Hybrid offers for today’s student experience
“Everyone is impressed by the new space we’ve created, and we want to expand the services across our reach,” he said. “A hybrid delivery model will be key to this and we are grateful to have the support of a tech-focused partner in Technogym. The journey will be led by consultation with students, and brought to life by technology, so it’s crucial that our equipment and digital offers are flexible enough to shift with the times.”
Watch the 3D tour:
