Auburn University Case Study
At Auburn University, the Recreation & Wellness Center is more than a gym. It's a hub where students, faculty, and staff come together around fitness every day. With that kind of consistent, high-volume traffic, the facility's team is always looking for ways to get more out of every square foot while keeping the experience welcoming for everyone who walks through the door.
The challenge Auburn faced wasn't unique, but it was real. Certain areas of the facility were underperforming, open floor space that wasn't pulling its weight, and a group fitness studio that needed equipment versatile enough to support a wide range of programming. At the same time, the team wanted to expand training options without adding clutter or complexity to the floor.
That's where FITBENCH came in. Auburn currently runs six FITBENCH ONE NXT GEN units, placed deliberately in two key areas: zones outside the main free-weight spaces, and inside the group fitness studio. The goal was to give those areas genuine utility, turning underused corners into full training destinations and giving the studio a platform flexible enough to anchor any class format.
What makes the placement work is what FITBENCH packs into a single station. Members can move through a complete workout, strength, functional training, accessory work, without hunting for equipment or waiting on machines. For instructors, it simplifies class setup considerably. For members training on their own, it removes friction and keeps momentum going.
Durability has been another quiet win. In a facility that sees the kind of traffic Auburn does, equipment gets put through its paces. The benches have held up through consistent, heavy use without issue, something the team noticed and appreciated.
"We have placed FITBENCH ONE NXT GEN units throughout our Recreation Center, focusing on areas outside our current free-weight spaces and in a group fitness studio. Their all-in-one functionality enables members to complete comprehensive, full-body workouts in a compact footprint.
The FITBENCH's have been instrumental in activating underutilized areas of our facility, improving space efficiency, and enhancing the overall member experience and fitness opportunities. Even with high-volume usage, the benches have held up exceptionally well." — Josh Jones, Assistant Director of Facilities & Operations, Auburn University
For Auburn, FITBENCH has been less about adding equipment and more about making the space work smarter. Six units in, the results speak for themselves, and with a seventh unit already on the way, the partnership shows no signs of slowing down.