When Auburn University opened a new 240,000 sf Rec & Wellness Center in 2013, no one could have predicted a rise in personal training would result in a shortage of space. Additional and under-utilized square footage beneath the basketball courts sat unfinished but available and was designated the new home for personal training and Olympic lifting amenities, as well as the social facility’s marketing team.

Our team understood that, whatever the final solution, it needed to feel intentional and integrated with the facility’s original design. Drawing from existing design elements, we worked with Auburn to create a space that enhances students’ fitness experience and expands the Rec & Wellness Center’s offerings. What was once a facilities-focused space is now an active part of Auburn’s campus wellness mission.