UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS
THE EDGE
LEEDS, UK
PHOTOS
SPECS
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UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS, UK
ACHIEVE 18MM APOLLO BLACK
ACHIEVE 18MM ARTEMIS GREY ACHIEVE 18MM ARTEMIS GREY ACHIEVE 8MM APOLLO BLACK
ATTACK TURF GREY THE EDGE
ACHIEVE
PROJECT INFO
IN JULY 2022 CONSTRUCTION WORKS BEGAN ON THE REFURBISHMENT AT THE EDGE, UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS, WITH THE OBJECTIVE TO POSITION IT AS ONE OF THE PREMIER HEALTH AND WELLBEING CENTRES IN THE CITY. THE UNIVERSITY HAD IDENTIFIED A DRASTIC CHANGE IN THE USAGE OF THEIR PREVIOUS EQUIPMENT, WITH A MOVEMENT AWAY FROM THE TRADITIONAL EMPHASIS ON CARDIOVASCULAR TRAINING TOWARDS A GREATER FOCUS ON STRENGTH AND FUNCTIONAL TRAINING. AS SUCH, THE UNIVERSITY RESPONDED TO THE CHANGING FITNESS CLIMATE, BY UPDATING THE LAYOUT AND USABILITY OF THE TRAINING SPACES.
PLAE WERE CONTACTED DIRECTLY BY GARETH DICKSON, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF SPORT, TO PARTNER WITH THE UNIVERSITY, TO DRIVE THE IMPROVEMENTS REQUIRED. ON THE AMBITIONS FOR THE FACILITY, THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF SPORT STATED “THE FACILITY IS ON THE FIRST FLOOR AND WASN'T BUILT SPECIFICALLY AS A GYM - THE FLOORING WAS MORE CLOSELY RELATED TO THAT FOUND IN AN OFFICE SPACE. WITH THE CHANGE IN DEMAND FROM CUSTOMERS TOWARDS STRENGTH TRAINING, WE WANTED A HIGH-PERFORMANCE FLOOR MORE CLOSELY SUITED TO ITS CURRENT USE. THE AMBITION WAS TO COMPLETELY REMOVE SECTIONS OF THE FLOOR WHERE LIFTING TAKES PLACE AND BUILD UP WITH PLAE'S SPECIALIST PRODUCT. A NEW FLOOR FINISH WAS TO BE INSTALLED THROUGHOUT TO MATCH THE AREAS THAT WERE STRENGTHENED/ REINFORCED. IT HAD TO BE ON ONE LEVEL WITHOUT THE NEED FOR LIFTING PLATFORMS WITH DEFINED LIFTING ZONES AROUND THE RACKS/ RIG WITH A SECTION OF SLED TRACK.”
PLAE ASSISTED WITH THEIR EXPERTISE IN MANAGING THE DESIGN AND INSTALLATION JOURNEY. GARETH WAS COMPLIMENTARY, SUGGESTING, “PLAE WERE EXCELLENT FROM TECHNICAL DESIGN/ PRODUCT SPECIFICATION TO SPECIALIST KNOWLEDGE AND SUPPORT. THE INSTALL TEAM WORKED AROUND SOME ISSUES THAT WERE FOUND ON SITE PROVIDING QUICK AND LOGICAL SOLUTIONS.”
THE EDGE REOPENED ITS DOORS IN SEPTEMBER 2022 AND THE RESPONSE FROM ITS MEMBERS HAS BEEN INCREDIBLY POSITIVE. “THE NEW FACILITY HAS HAD AMAZING FEEDBACK, IT'S SUCH A STEP FORWARD IN TERMS OF LOOK, FEEL AND PERFORMANCE.” THE EDGE IS MOVING TOWARDS BECOMING A MODERN HUB OF HEALTH AND WELLNESS BY IMPROVING ITS FITNESS SUITE AND SPIN FACILITIES. THIS IS THE FIRST STEP PRIOR TO THE NEXT ACADEMIC YEAR FOR IMPROVEMENTS. ALONGSIDE THIS IT IS INVESTING IN NEW TECHNOLOGY FOR ITS ONLINE JOINING AND BOOKING SYSTEM.
AS A CENTRE THAT CATERS TO NOT ONLY THE UNIVERSITY’S STUDENT AND STAFF COMMUNITY BUT ALSO THE WIDER LEEDS COMMUNITY, IT IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING AN EXCELLENT SERVICE. PLAE LOOKS FORWARD TO SEEING THE SUCCESS OF THE EDGE REFURBISHMENT AND SUPPORTING THE UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS ON FUTURE PROJECTS.
COMPLETED:
ACHIEVE 18MM APOLLO BLACK
ACHIEVE 18MM ARTEMIS GREY ACHIEVE 18MM ARTEMIS GREY ACHIEVE 8MM APOLLO BLACK
ATTACK TURF GREY SEPTEMBER 2022 ATTACK
