In 2021, the University of Southampton announced a £36m investment in sports and wellbeing at Southampton Sport, beginning with a major expansion of the Jubilee Sports and Recreation Centre. The upgraded facilities opened in September 2024 as students returned for the new academic year. Phillip Malatesta, head of sport and community services, explains how the project was shaped in collaboration with its users.
“Collaboration and inclusivity are at the heart of the university’s strategy,” says Malatesta. “But we all know the barriers to being active. Our vision for the Jubilee Centre was to create a destination of choice for students and the wider community.”
Southampton Sport offers a range of services to encourage participation, from scholarship programmes and community initiatives to the expanded Jubilee centre, which now features a state-of-the-art gym, 72 acres of outdoor space, 4G pitches and speed climbing facilities.
Throughout the process, Southampton Sport consulted a wide range of students about the layout, equipment and experiences that would encourage greater participation. The new Jubilee gym is twice the size of the previous one, with a streamlined digital experience and cutting-edge equipment from Technogym.
‘Active for all’ with accessible, inclusive equipment
Central to the extension was the choice of accessible and inclusive equipment. Technogym was selected as a partner for its strong reputation in the university sports sector, the quality and variety of its equipment, and its digital capabilities.
The gym marks a significant step in the partnership between Southampton Sport and Technogym, featuring equipment that supports the university’s commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) goals and accessibility. The partnership extends beyond equipment, with Technogym also providing staff training to ensure the full potential of the new kit is realised.
The previous facilities lacked community spaces where users could connect and develop the soft skills that often come through university sport. The new design addresses this, with natural light, greenery and sustainable materials aimed at improving mental wellbeing.
Responding to student feedback, there is now a much higher provision of strength-training equipment, and the cardio kit has been upgraded with digital content and programming.
The expanded gym space is zoned into areas for free weights, strength training (with Technogym Unity Mini Selection 900 equipment and additional half racks), cardio (featuring Excite Live and Skillrow) and functional training.
At the centre of the gym sits Technogym’s Kinesis One cable machine, chosen for its inclusive, user-friendly design that accommodates a wide range of abilities, including users with disabilities.
Between the cardio and strength zones is a Technogym Outrace rig that forms the heart of the functional training area, serving also as a social hub for circuits and new fast classes. Space-saving Technogym Universe cages – combining racks, multipower and cable machines – address growing interest in strength training.
A separate Technogym Group Cycle Connect studio has doubled the previous indoor cycling capacity, from 12 bikes to 24. The boutique-style space has been attracting attention during new member tours, thanks to digital content, atmospheric lighting and immersive audio. Classes will be offered both in-person and virtually to allow for flexible timetabling.
Enhancing the experience through digital integration
As part of the upgrade, Southampton Sport has started using Technogym's digital package, including the Mywellness platform. This integrated approach allows users to track their activity both in the centre and outdoors, while enabling staff to personalise communication and support.
“Technogym leads the way in digital innovation,” says Malatesta. “The content on the cardio machines, the features in the app and the seamless connectivity across the system create a modern experience. We’ve never had anything like it before – I’m excited to offer it to our users.”
Southampton Sport is committed to a joined-up approach to wellbeing. The new facilities will support the university’s student wellbeing service, inclusive and disability schemes, fitness ambassadors and local GP exercise referrals.
Online feedback has been extremely positive ahead of the opening. “This is an amazing facility and nothing like we’ve ever had before,” says Malatesta. “Jubilee is more than a sports centre. It will offer students and the community a space to meet, build connections and enjoy the benefits of an active lifestyle.”
