Case study
SMBC Aviation Capital: a blank canvas on Merrion Square
Designed from scratch with the people who use it, and run by Collective since day one. Today more than 70% of staff use it every week.
How we built it
In from day one
When SMBC Aviation Capital moved into its new headquarters on Merrion Square in March 2024, we were involved from the start. We were given a blank canvas, and the creative freedom to design the gym the way we knew would work best for the people in the building.
01 Listen First
In the months leading up to the project we spoke to staff across the business, to understand what they wanted and needed from us.
02 Design From Elite Sport
Years in elite sport taught us what works and what doesn't. We designed the space around that, not around a catalogue.
03 Build In A Clinic
A treatment room on site was essential. It lets us take people through our full pain-to-performance pathway, so the gym isn't only for people who already train. It's for people who want to start but have barriers to overcome first.
04 Run It And Keep Growing
Since then the gym has gone from strength to strength. We run weekly classes, our coaches work with staff on one-to-one programmes, and we triage staff every week, getting to know them and what they need.
What SMBC Has On Site
- Gym And Studio Designed By Collective
- Weekly Coached Classes
- One-To-One Coaching Programmes
- An On-Site Treatment Room
- Weekly Triage Of New And Returning Staff
- A Gym Run Day To Day By Our Team
Your building next
Let's design yours
Whether it's an empty floor, a gym that's gone quiet or a move to a new office, we'll walk the space and show you what's possible.