Creating a High-Performance Facility for the University of Southampton

The University of Southampton partnered with BLK BOX to create a high-performance strength and conditioning facility built to support athletes across a wide range of sports and training demands.

The ambition was to create a Performance Centre that would inspire athletes and elevate performance. The facility needed to support development at every stage of the athlete journey.

The Challenge

The University of Southampton supports performance athletes across rugby, swimming, sailing, athletics, gymnastics and more. Each sport brings different physical demands, requiring a facility capable of supporting everything from rehabilitation and foundational strength development to heavy compound lifting, explosive training and conditioning.

With multiple athletes and coaches using the space throughout the day, durability, accessibility and efficient use of space were essential. Every element needed to contribute to a practical training environment while giving coaches the flexibility to programme for individuals and larger groups.

The facility also needed to support the university’s wider ambitions. Performance sport is a key pillar of Southampton Sport’s five-year strategic vision, and investing in a high-quality strength and conditioning environment demonstrates its commitment to helping athletes achieve their ambitions, both on and off the field.

Tom Forster, Lead Strength & Conditioning Coach said “Our ambition was to create a Performance Centre that would inspire athletes, elevate performance and support development at every stage of the performance journey.”

Why BLK BOX?

The university needed an equipment partner that understood the demands of a university performance environment and could combine innovative design, high-quality equipment and genuine strength and conditioning expertise.

Versatility, durability and futureproofing were central to the brief. The space needed to evolve alongside the programme and continue supporting future generations of Southampton athletes.

BLK BOX took the time to understand how the university operates, its ambitions for performance sport and the practical challenges presented by the existing space. Through a collaborative design process, the team developed a tailored solution that maximised every square metre while creating a professional training environment aligned with Southampton’s standards.

“BLK BOX stood out because they immediately understood our vision. Their collaborative approach, design expertise and ability to tailor solutions allowed us to maximise every square metre while creating a professional training environment that reflects the standards we aspire to.” - Tom Forster, Lead Strength & Conditioning Coach.

The Solution

BLK BOX 5 Series Full Racks and Half Racks form the foundation of the facility, providing dedicated stations for squatting, pressing, pulling and Olympic lifting.

Smith Machine Attachments introduce guided barbell training without requiring additional standalone machines. Jammer Arms, Dip Stations and Landmine Attachments further expand the training options available at each station.

Integrated force plates allow coaches to assess athlete performance and gather valuable data to inform training decisions. Together, these features create a flexible strength zone that can adapt to different sports, athletes and sessions without requiring frequent changes to the layout.

Building Complete Athletes

Alongside the rack stations, the facility includes a comprehensive selection of strength equipment.

The Bilateral Leg Press and Pin Select Leg Extension/Curl support controlled lower-body development. The Belt Squat Machine allows athletes to load the lower body while reducing demand on the spine and upper body, while the Plate Loaded Hip Thruster and Seated Calf Raise provide dedicated options for posterior-chain and lower-leg development.

A GHD Pro, 45 Degree Hyper Extension, Reverse Hyper Extension and Adjustable Seal Row Bench further expand the facility’s capabilities. These machines allow coaches to strengthen the posterior chain and trunk while providing targeted upper-back training.

The 5 Series Dual Adjustable Pulley adds another layer of versatility, supporting accessory exercises, unilateral training and sport-specific movement patterns through a range of cable attachments.

Designed for Free-Weight Training

A selection of Olympic, Power, Safety Squat, Hex and Multigrip bars gives athletes the right tool for each training objective.

Custom Competition Plates, Change Plates and Urethane Dumbbells create a consistent, professional training experience throughout the facility. Dedicated weight trees, bar holders and a three-tier dumbbell rack keep equipment organised, accessible and ready for each session.

Custom 5 Series brand plates bring the University of Southampton identity into the training environment, creating a distinctive finish unique to the facility.

Conditioning Without Compromise

To complement the strength equipment, BLK BOX supplied a selection of high-performance conditioning machines.

The Wattbike AirPro, AssaultBike Elite and SkiErg allow coaches to programme aerobic development, high-intensity intervals and mixed-modal conditioning. Each machine can be used for individual training, group sessions or athlete testing.

Power bands, exercise mats and functional accessories provide further options for warm-ups, mobility, rehabilitation and supplementary strength work.

Performance from the Ground Up

The flooring system was designed around the demands of each training area.

High Impact Gym Tiles protect the subfloor and help manage the noise and force produced by repeated barbell drops. Inlaid wooden platforms provide dedicated surfaces for Olympic lifting, while anti-slip tiles create a stable foundation across the general training areas. Transition ramps provide a smooth connection between flooring zones and improve accessibility throughout the space.

Together, these surfaces create a durable foundation capable of withstanding the demands of a busy university performance environment.

The Result

The completed Performance Centre is now the daily hub of the university’s athlete development programme, supporting everything from personalised training and rehabilitation to fully coached team sessions.

Athletes can follow programmes built around their individual performance goals, whether they are increasing strength and power, improving speed and movement quality, returning from injury or developing the physical qualities required for elite competition.

The enhanced layout and equipment provision also allow coaches to work with larger groups more efficiently while maintaining high coaching standards, individual attention and a safe training environment. Sessions can move seamlessly between movement preparation, technical lifting, explosive power development, strength work and conditioning.

The new facility gives Southampton greater flexibility, capacity and impact. It provides the infrastructure required to support athletic development at the highest level while enhancing the wider student experience and strengthening the university’s position as a destination of choice for talented student athletes.

"The new facility gives us greater flexibility, greater capacity and greater impact. It enables us to provide a premium Strength & Conditioning experience that supports performance across multiple sports, while creating an environment that athletes genuinely want to be part of every day.” - Tom Forster, Lead Strength & Conditioning Coach

Custom details complete the space, creating a distinctive University of Southampton identity throughout. Every element has been selected to perform under pressure and give athletes the environment they need to pursue better.