Canada Water
Southwark Council

Location: Southwark, London
Training Space: Leisure Centre
Industry: Local Authority
Website: southwarkleisure.co.uk/centres/canada-water/

Brand new for 2025, Canada Water Leisure Centre offers the latest in facilities and design, featuring a 25m, 8-lane main pool, a separate teaching pool with a moveable floor, two group exercise studios, a large multi-sport hall, a cycling studio, and a spacious, world-class gym.

This landmark facility marks the 7th gym project delivered by IndigoFitness for Southwark Council, further strengthening a partnership built on trust, collaboration, and a shared commitment to improving community wellbeing through accessible, high-quality training spaces.

See How We Did It

The Situation

As a brand-new site, the training space at Canada Water offered a blank canvas and with that came an opportunity to create something exceptional from the ground up. Southwark Council wanted a gym that set a new standard for local authority facilities: open, functional, and accessible to a wide range of users.

From the outset, collaboration was key. The council valued IndigoFitness’ ability to co-design both the overall space and the finer gym flooring and custom equipment details, ensuring that the final outcome was as functional as it was visually aligned with the Southwark Leisure MOVE identity.

Additionally, acoustic challenges within the free weights area needed to be resolved to reduce noise pollution and provide a high-quality experience for all users throughout the gym.

See Our Solution

The Solution

IndigoFitness worked closely with Southwark Council to design and deliver a completely custom training space that maximised functionality within the existing space while delivering on the council’s branding and performance goals.

Key elements of the solution included:

Integrated Rack Systems:

Three bespoke racks with integrated Smith machines, joined by custom plate storage to optimise functionality while minimising depth, maintaining open sightlines across the gym floor.
Three additional racks with dual adjustable pulleys (DAPs) backing onto them create a central focal point that enhances both training variety and gym flow.

Custom Functional Rig & Storage:
A one-of-a-kind rig featuring wall ball targets, built-in cable systems, specific storage for all accessories, and two throw walls that wrap around steel pillars, making the most of existing building architectural design.

Free Weights & Benches:
IndigoFitness supplied and installed all free weights and benches, ensuring a consistent, premium feel throughout the strength training zones.
Enhanced Flooring & Acoustic Treatment:
Installation of 70mm premium Durasound tiles in the free weights area to minimise noise and vibration, dramatically improving acoustics across the gym.

Stretch & Recovery Zone:
Additional IndigoFitness storage and equipment were installed to create a dedicated stretch area, giving members a defined, well-equipped space for warm-up and recovery.

MOVE Brand Integration:
The council’s MOVE identity runs throughout the facility, from custom framework and platforms to upholstery detailing creating a seamless branded experience.

Premium, Collar-Free Setup:
The entire gym is collar-free, using Gungnir weightlifting bars., a unique feature in local authority facilities that enhances safety, ease of use, and overall member experience.

See The Result

Flooring Solutions:

$

Inset Custom wood effect Graphix lifting platforms with MOVE branding.

$

70mm Premium duraSOUND with Grey Fleck.

Equipment Solutions:

$

RAZE Shadow XD racks with smith and cables.

$

RAZE Shadow XD Olympic Bench & RAZE Shadow Series Adjustable Bench

$

RAZE Custom Functional Rig & Storage

$

RAZE Custom Throw Walls

$

RAZE Strength equipment – All Accessories including Bumper plates, hex dumbbells, Wall balls etc.

$

Gungnir Olympic bars.

$

RAZE Renegagde Runner & AirBike

$

Concept2 SkiErg & RowErg.

The Result

The completed Canada Water Leisure Centre gym is a bold, functional, and future-ready training space that stands as a flagship facility for Southwark Council.

The compact yet impactful design makes the most of every square metre, maintaining open lines of sight around the centre’s striking steel pillars and beams. The result is a space that feels expansive, connected, and full of energy.

Members now enjoy a premium training space that caters to strength, conditioning, and functional fitness, all within a setting that feels both aspirational and accessible. The acoustic performance has created a more enjoyable atmosphere, while the cohesive branding reinforces the MOVE identity throughout every element of the space.

Looking ahead, the thoughtful planning of this project has provided the flexibility for a Phase 2 expansion as community demand continues to grow.

This project represents more than just another installation. It’s the 7th successful collaboration between IndigoFitness and Southwark Council, demonstrating a shared vision for creating facilities that elevate local authority fitness, turning community spaces into environments where people truly want to move, train, and thrive.