Prioritizing Strength and Functional Flexibility

One of the most striking shifts? Strength training is no longer a side dish—it’s the main course.

According to Life Fitness’ report, Charting Industry Growth and Investment—A Global Snapshot, strength training areas continue to grow in square feet as cardio sections shrink. In fact, free weight, plate-loaded, and cable equipment areas have grown by 22% in the modern gym, while cardio equipment has dipped by the same amount.

The increasing popularity of functional fitness, characterized by the aforementioned turf area and sleds, and performance-based workouts, has also pushed cardio machines further to the margins, sometimes literally. While cardio hasn’t disappeared, it’s been streamlined. These days, treadmills, bikes, ellipticals, and rowers are used just as often for warm-ups, cooldowns, and high-intensity bursts as part of functional training as they are for long-form cardio.

“There’s still a need for light cardio, especially for older adults or injury rehab,” Morley notes. “But in most clubs, strength is dominating and cardio is adapting.”

As strength areas expand, so does the demand for flexible zones that can adapt to small-group training, free movement, and hybrid workouts. To meet this need, operators are prioritizing layout flexibility, building multipurpose pods and modular spaces that can serve multiple uses across the day.

“We are seeing spaces used for dedicated classes like indoor cycling and yoga converted to multi-use space or even recovery spaces,” says Rudy Fabiano, founder and design principal at Fabiano Designs.

Encouraging Community

Designers are reimagining not just floor space, but also how people gather before classes, where they socialize after, and how to mitigate congestion in the locker room during peak times. Overflow lounges, outdoor terraces, and transitional social spaces now play a key role in member experience.

This shift isn’t just about training formats. It’s about creating environments where programming and community can thrive side by side.

Operators are also rethinking the traditional lobby in favor of mobile check-ins, minimalist design, and social gathering spaces.

Instead of waiting in line to scan a card, members walk into open café spaces and retail corners, creating a softer, more welcoming first impression. This model supports longer stays and encourages members to see the gym as more than just a place to work out—it becomes part of their lifestyle.

“There was a time when the lobby area might have a large reception desk and a couch where members would meet and form bonds before or after a workout,” says Fabiano. “Today, that’s happening on the floor, and the design has to allow for that to keep members feeling like part of a community.”

Creating Aesthetic Intelligence

Today’s health clubs are judged not just by what they offer, but by how they feel. Among members under 35 years old, design aesthetics now rank in the top five considerations when choosing a gym, according to the Life Fitness report.

That has led to a boom in hospitality-inspired design, featuring natural materials, ambient lighting, curated color palettes, and Instagram- and TikTok-ready backgrounds. Fitness spaces are becoming mood-enhancing environments that are equal parts performance space and visual identity.

“Boutique gyms used to feel like the exception,” Morley explains. “Now they’re influencing the mainstream. We’ve seen the same thing in hospitality, where lifestyle hotels redefined expectations. Gyms are catching up.”

Even budget gyms are embracing more thoughtful design. By reducing the footprint of traditional reception areas, they’re investing in clean, flexible layouts with improved lighting and visual flow. The goal is to create a space that appeals to multiple generations—and looks good on social media.

The explosion of fitness content creation, particularly among Gen Z, has transformed gyms into powerful marketing engines. Lighting, branding, and backdrop design are no longer afterthoughts, they’re part of the club’s visibility strategy.

“Today, we need to think beyond the functional when it comes to club design,” says Fabiano. “Lights, colors, mirror placement, the equipment layout, and branding on the fitness floor are now part of the club’s marketing. And, it is the members that are promoting the brand for them on their TikTok and Instagram accounts.”

Taking Recovery From Amenity to Anchor

Another big game-changer in club design is the rise of recovery as a core offering and not just as a premium add-on.

Traditional spa zones, once limited to a sauna or steam room, are being replaced or supplemented by infrared saunas, cold plunges, massage chairs, red light therapy, and guided mobility zones. These areas serve a dual role: performance recovery and member retention.

Morley sees this as a natural extension of a broader wellness mindset.

“Recovery zones aren’t fluff—they’re a member expectation now. But they require just as much attention to staffing, layout, and flow as training spaces.”

He points out that active recovery areas like mobility corners are just as important as specialized spa offerings. These smaller spaces don’t require a considerable investment but offer significant returns in member satisfaction.

Integrating Technology and Personalization

Tech integration continues to reshape facility planning, but members don’t want to feel like they’re navigating a spaceship. Clubs are expanding their use of technology, including biometric check-ins, connected equipment, and personalized app-based programming.

But the most successful clubs are keeping things seamless. Smart resistance circuits are gaining traction, enabling members to track their progress and receive guidance without over-complicating their workouts.

Even practical details, such as USB charging stations, phone ledges, and water bottle fill zones, are now considered essential elements of good design.

“Everyone walks in with a phone and a towel,” Morley says. “Why not accommodate that in the layout?”