Should Gyms Create Workspaces? Exploring the Co-Working Opportunity in Fitness Facilities
In recent years, the line between home, office, and third space has become increasingly blurred. With remote and hybrid work now firmly embedded in modern working culture, people are no longer confined to traditional offices or coffee shops. They’re looking for flexible, comfortable environments where they can work, socialise, move — and reset.
So, could gyms be the next frontier for co-working?
It’s a question forward-thinking gym owners should be asking.
From Workout to Workstation: A Cultural Shift
The fitness industry has always been in the business of transformation. But now it’s not just about physical goals — it’s about lifestyle. Many members spend hours in your space, not just training but recovering, socialising, refuelling, and even networking. Add in the rise of hybrid work, and you have a compelling opportunity: what if your gym could also serve as a functional, welcoming workspace?
The reality is that many gym cafés, lounges and communal spaces are underutilised outside of peak hours. Reimagining these areas as work-friendly could generate extra revenue, deepen member engagement, and help position your club as a lifestyle destination — not just a training facility.
Why Co-Working and Gyms Make Sense Together
1. Aligns with Member Lifestyles
Hybrid workers crave flexibility. They also value convenience. A gym that offers space to train, shower, grab a coffee, and tick off some work tasks in one location becomes a compelling part of their daily rhythm.
2. Drives Secondary Spend
A café that encourages lingering is a café that sells more. Members who come to work for a few hours are far more likely to buy coffee, snacks, shakes, or lunch — especially if your offering is tailored to their needs.
3. Increases Length of Stay and Club Loyalty
If members start using your facility as both a gym and a workspace, you become part of their weekday routine — not just their workout schedule. That kind of integration builds habits and long-term loyalty.
4. Attracts a New Audience
A quiet, functional workspace with access to fitness, showers, and wellness amenities could attract freelancers, hybrid workers, or local professionals who may not have considered your club before. It opens the door to creative membership models, such as “wellness co-working” packages.
What’s Needed to Make It Work?
Creating a workspace inside a gym doesn’t mean turning your studio into a WeWork — but it does mean intentionally designing an environment that supports both focus and flow.
✅ Comfortable Seating and Layout
Think café-style tables, soft chairs, bar seating, or even shared booths. Avoid clutter. Define the space clearly so it doesn’t feel like a makeshift waiting area.
✅ Reliable Wi-Fi
This is non-negotiable. Fast, secure, and stable Wi-Fi is essential if you expect people to take the space seriously.
✅ Accessible Power Points
Ensure there are plenty of charging spots. Bonus points for USB-C options and cable-free charging pads.
✅ Noise and Atmosphere Management
Music that’s great for workouts might be too intense for a Zoom call. Consider using subtle sound zoning or acoustic panels to make the space more versatile.
✅ Hospitality Touches
Table service, barista coffee, healthy snacks, or even a work-friendly lunch menu can all enhance the experience and boost spend per head.
✅ Flexible Membership Options
Offer bolt-on workspace access, day passes, or hybrid wellness/work packages. Think: train at 7am, coffee and emails by 8, back on the gym floor at lunch.
Who’s Already Doing It?
While still a relatively new idea, several premium clubs and boutique studios have begun experimenting with work-friendly environments:
- Equinox in the US launched its “E by Equinox” concept in some cities, integrating wellness lounges and calm workspaces.
- Third Space in London has created sophisticated club lounges that double as quiet, comfortable daytime working areas.
- Boutique and independent operators are rethinking café spaces, adding better seating, stronger coffee, and high-speed connectivity to attract the work-and-wellness crowd.
Even outside of fitness, brands like Soho House and David Lloyd’s “Clubrooms” have shown the power of blending lifestyle with utility.
Final Thought: Are You Just a Gym — or a Daily Destination?
Creating workspace opportunities in your gym isn’t about chasing a trend. It’s about recognising a shift in how people want to live, work, and train — and positioning your facility to meet them there.
For clubs with underused café space, strong daytime footfall, or ambitions to diversify, adding a co-working dimension could turn square footage into real value. It’s a chance to deepen member engagement, increase secondary revenue, and offer something that few competitors are thinking about.
The future of fitness isn’t just sweat and reps — it’s connection, convenience, and lifestyle.
And the gym that understands that first… wins.
Let me know if you’d like this adapted into a shorter blog post, social series, or pitch for internal planning.
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