A training space fit for a king
Absolute Performance were tasked with providing an ‘access for all’ gym. As a highly-regarded school with many advancing and able athletes representing their sport at a national and international level, King Edward VI School (KES) in Southampton recognised its school gym was too focused towards 1st team school sports and not on developing its talented elite athletes. Coupled with that, it was also an unwelcoming environment for girls to train in.
Their decision to refurbish and extend the facility was driven by 3 key desires:
- Provide access for all students and teachers, making
the gym a place for all to enjoy going to and training
in, whether male or female - To support the school’s elite athletes who often found
it difficult outside school to do the level of strength
training needed to succeed - To support all King Edward VI school teams (not
just 1st teams) and make fitness training part of the
weekly routine to engender the culture of fitness and
conditioning required for development in sport.
KES had seen the work Absolute Performance successfully completed at Canford School, as well as elsewhere in the education sector, and chose to utilise our vast experience working with physical education institutes.
A VERSATILE Squash Court Conversion
The location for the new facility was a relatively unused squash court, providing the floor space and height for a great split-level facility. Light, bright and welcoming.
The upper level of the gym was installed with spin bikes and treadmills providing cardio training facility for general class use as well as athlete training.
The multi-function training room downstairs is used for general strength and conditioning work. We installed a variety of heavyweight flooring in a low-level platform area with power racks and benches. The AP heavyweight flooring is ideal for strength training and the development of athletes, as it is resilient and multipurpose.
We also supplied the school with a variety of fixed resistance machines, all of which will enable students of all levels of ability to train safely.
Customised soft plyo boxes with the school logo and a variety of functional fitness equipment including kettlebells, dumbbells, jerk blocks and gym balls were installed to enhance the facility.
The results
A light, bright facility providing ‘access for all’.
The new strength and cardio-focused training space has transformed the workout experience for all. Whether it’s an elite athlete or a school team, the areas of training (strength and cardio) provide a welcoming and safe and stimulating environment for everyone, both boys and girls.
We initially chose to speak to Absolute Performance after seeing the work they’d done at Canford School. With all their experience working on similar projects, they quickly understood the breadth of our requirements and demonstrated a very sympathetic approach. They came to visit our facility before making any recommendations and were able to work with us producing a final plan that not only met the brief but was within our budget.
They gave us excellent advice on how best to use the space we had regarding the mix of equipment and flooring, ensuring we had a good balance of both strength and cardio equipment and always thinking about the end objective. At all times their communication on the progress of the order was clear, and before, during and since installation their customer care has been great. We have an ongoing service contract with AP now to ensure that all the equipment is kept in good working order. I would highly recommend them for any future projects.
– Dan Kent, Director of Sport of King Edward VI School
