Exos clients often comment on how good our fitness centers feel compared to other gyms.
That’s not by accident.
When you walk into an Exos-designed office gym, you can tell it’s not just a big room packed with machines. Every inch of space, every line of sight, and every user experience is guided by one principle: to design for the behaviors we want to see.
That means creating environments that inspire connection, support recovery, and help people step confidently into their well-being journey — no matter where they’re starting from.
The result: higher performance, engagement, and all-around well-being.
Design That Welcomes Everyone
First impressions matter.
And nothing feels quite as intimidating as watching someone throw down a 400-lb deadlift right right as you enter the gym.
That’s why Exos gyms never lead with a wall of squat racks or heavy-duty machines right at the front. Instead, we use a progression model: Beginner-friendly spaces and equipment are near the entrance, and more advanced zones like squat racks are placed deeper in.
This progression model design lowers the intimidation factor, especially for those who are newer to fitness or are simply new to the space.
We believe good gym design should meet people where they are — because when people feel welcome, they show up.
Design to Influence Behavior (and Belonging)
Everything in our office gyms is designed with behavior in mind:
- Making recovery accessible: We intentionally place recovery tools like massage chairs and leg compression machines near the entrance. People use them, start conversations, and build trust with their coaches.
- Fueling in community: In our flagship Phoenix facility where we train professional athletes, our Fueling Station (shake bar) sits right by the door. This reinforces the importance of nutrition, all while creating a natural hub for community-building.
- Keeping coaches engaged: We keep staff desks at standing height and place them centrally, so Exos staff can actually engage with users, rather than just greeting them. As an added bonus, each staff member doubles as safety supervision, rather than hiring headcount purely to operate the front desk.
- Emphasizing holistic well-being: Our original Exos methodology was built on Mindset, Nutrition, Movement, and Recovery. That’s why we include yoga spaces, meditation pods, and recovery zones to help members unplug and become present — free from screen distractions.
These cues are subtle, but powerful. They physically guide members toward better habits like fueling well, recovering more, and staying curious about movement.
Start With Space, Not Stuff
A good gym isn't defined by how much equipment it holds, but how much movement it allows.
That’s why one of our first priorities in any gym floor plan design is creating open space.
You’ll notice that our exercise machines tend to serve multiple use cases and muscle groups. Why? And by prioritizing multi-purpose equipment over bulky, isolated machines, we create large, flexible open spaces for all kinds of movement.
What’s more, these machines and open space support the functional movement you would actually use in your everyday life.
That means multi-joint movements like lunges, deadlifts, pushes, pulls, and rotations. All of these mimic movements like picking up your toddler, hauling a suitcase up the stairs, or navigating uneven ground on a weekend hike.
Open space also means flexibility. It invites everything from individual warmups to high-energy team workouts. In other words, our space adapts with the changing needs of your workforce.
For example: Our on-site coaches often lead group recharge breaks and themed group workouts to help people refresh their energy throughout their work day — all while inspiring connection.
Meeting People Where They Are
For many people, the gym isn’t the first place they feel confident.
But one of the most common pieces of feedback we get from members is how much more confident they’ve become since working with their Exos coach. Nothing lights us up more than that.
So, we make entry points into well-being easy, accessible, and tailored to the individual.
A member may come into the fitness center purely to use the massage chair. But over time, they get curious about strength training. Then, they build their capacity and confidence to take on more, and their workplace performance soars because of it.
Or maybe a member starts with a 1:1 Gameplan design session with their coach, and then finds that they really enjoy group training.
Our design supports those pathways by giving people permission to start wherever they’re most comfortable — and expand when they’re ready.
Data-Driven, People-Centered Design
We don’t stop designing once the doors open.
We’re obsessed with continuous improvement. That’s why we follow up with each of our clients after 30 days, six months, and one year to evaluate how well the space is treating the people using it.
We collect:
- Equipment usage data via connected cardio machines and strength sensors
- Feedback from staff and members
- Coaching reports on how spaces support Gameplans and performance goals
That feedback informs future layout changes, equipment swaps, and staffing models. We always make sure the gym floor plan design and fitness center management evolve with the community they serve.
What Sets Exos Apart
What makes an Exos-designed office gym different isn’t just the equipment—it’s the philosophy:
- Beginner-friendly design that meets everyone where they are
- Focus on holistic performance: mindset, nutrition, movement, and recovery
- Intentional placement of community-building spaces, recovery tools, and staff points
- Hospitable, versatile staff who coach, engage, and support — not just supervise
- Seamless digital integration with hybrid coaching support
- Ongoing evaluation and iteration to serve evolving needs
It all adds up to a space that supports performance and connection, not just workouts.
Built for Movement, Designed for People
At Exos, we don’t design gyms just to train — we design them to inspire. To help people move better, feel better, and live better in and out of the workplace.
That’s the power of purpose-driven gym design. And it’s how we help our partners build stronger, more energized teams from the ground up.
Ready to create a fitness center that fuels culture, performance, and well-being? Let’s talk about how Exos can help you design with intention.
