As part of a new £2.5 million sport, fitness, health and adventure development, Lord Wandsworth College approached us to create a sector-leading strength and conditioning suite, supporting their commitment to weaving wellbeing into the rhythm of everyday life.
The starting point
At 400 sq m, the outdated, traditional sports hall offered significant scope to maximise its potential and reimagine it as a modern training environment. This revitalised facility would become known as ‘The Barn’.
Laying the foundations
A key priority was completing the installation ahead of the autumn term, ensuring the facility was installed and ready before students returned. Taking shape over summer, it was transformed from the ground up, starting with the floor.
To withstand the demands of daily school use, 40 mm heavyweight rubber tiles were installed, providing durability, impact absorption and longevity. Complementing the rubber flooring is a custom turf sled track with woven markers, which runs seamlessly through the space. This enhances training versatility and supports a wide range of athletic movements.
Performance equipment at the core
At the heart of the facility sits the centrepiece of the room, eight KingsBox back-to-back power racks, complete with multi-grip pull-up bars and integrated oak lifting platforms. These are paired with bespoke Werksan Lionfit weight plates, customised with Lord Wandsworth College branding to create a distinctive visual identity. Plus, each rack is accompanied by an APEX fully Adjustable Super Bench to complete the primary strength training setup.
We also installed a comprehensive range of free weights and functional training tools, including dumbbells in varying weights, soft plyo boxes, exercise balls, studio mats and resistance bands, ensuring the facility caters for all training levels and disciplines.
Organisation was a key consideration in maintaining both safety and usability. A range of dedicated storage solutions was installed throughout the space, including wall-mounted storage, equipment racks and a three-tier dumbbell rack, creating a tidy and safe training environment.
The Barn has been a transformative addition to Lord Wandsworth College. From the outset, working with Absolute Performance has been exceptional. Their professionalism, responsiveness, and genuine willingness to help at every stage have made the entire process smooth and enjoyable. They offered thoughtful advice on design and layout, and no idea or request, big or small, was ever too much trouble. Their expertise has clearly shaped the high-quality facility we now have.” Miss P. Lake, Assistant Director of Sport.
The finishing touches
The finishing stage of the project centred on bespoke branding, elevating the space and reinforcing the college’s identity throughout. Lord Wandsworth College’s name and logo were incorporated into Werksan Lionfit plates, plyo boxes, bench sweat wraps and the turf track.
Designed to inspire. Built to perform.
The result is a strength and conditioning facility designed to support the entire Lord Wandsworth College community in developing a lifelong commitment to wellbeing and healthy living.
Creating high-quality training environments like this is at the core of what we do, and Lord Wandsworth College now benefits from a sector-leading S&C suite that will support students for years to come.
Absolute Performance guided us seamlessly from concept to completion. Their designs, stakeholder engagement, and flexibility, even with multiple changes, have delivered a superb final product. Their industry knowledge and attention to detail — especially around branding and how the space would feel in use — were exceptional. Lidia Pocock, Director of Estates.
