Dec 16, 2025Thornton Academy fitness center ‘high-functioning and multi-purpose’
Thornton Academy’s new fitness center delivers a true “wow” factor for both student-athletes and the wider school community. Part of a larger campus improvement initiative, the project transformed an outdated, cramped weight room into a modern, multi-purpose training space that supports everything from introductory wellness classes to elite athletic performance.
Primarily outfitted by Perform Better, the center features eight Signature Series racks — four half racks and four power racks with jammer arms — surrounded by inlay platforms. Two sets of logoed urethane dumbbells (to 75 and 50 pounds), eight sets of PowerBlocks to 100 pounds, PB Extreme bumper plates, soft-toss medicine balls, gravity kettlebells with storage, and two foam plyo box sets provide versatile strength options. Functional training tools include a TRX suspension bay with an add-on unit, three drive sleds, a strip of green turf for speed and agility work, and a 14-foot custom smash wall. Cardio equipment from Gronk Fitness — two Dynamic Fitness functional trainers, two rowing machines, two ellipticals, and two Air Raid bikes — rounds out the space.
“The goal was to create a space that could serve every student — whether they’re learning basic fitness skills or chasing peak athletic performance,” said Nick Tabor, assistant head of student affairs.
Thornton’s director of facilities Matt Cook added, “We designed it to be high-functioning and multi-purpose. Seeing teams and wellness classes all use the space together has been incredibly rewarding.”
With racks and platforms at the center and cardio and functional areas around the perimeter, the layout allows multiple groups to train at once, fostering community, lifelong fitness habits and high-level athletic development.
