US low-cost operator, Amped Fitness, has launched a flagship location in Texas, debuting its multi-sensory Amped Universe design architecture.

The new club in Sugar Land offers eight separate destinations, each connected to an emotional state, such as Babe Cave After Hours – the signature women’s only lifting sanctuary designed to build confidence – and Lunar Escape offering mindfulness classes for mental restoration.

Specialised equipment such as pendulum squats, vertical leg presses and converging chest presses are on offer, alongside instructed reformer Pilates, immersive cardio, recovery, mindfulness experiences and individual rooms available for a variety of uses including filming podcasts and virtual meetings. 

Founded in 2016, by Travis LaBazzo and Stephen Thomas, Amped Fitness set out to bring premium, boutique-style experiences into the low-cost model. Earlier this year, Princeton Equity Group invested to help the team aggressively accelerate corporate expansion and support national franchising. There are currently 40 sites, mostly in Florida, but the company is scaling across Texas, Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, and Tennessee.

"Sugar Land represents a major step forward for Amped Fitness and for the type of experience we believe a gym can provide," said LaBazzo. "We are creating environments that can transport members and give them more reasons to be excited about coming to the gym.

"Our members expect equipment such as pendulum squats and other specialised machines they may not find at a traditional gym. What we are doing now is placing that equipment inside a much larger experience. 

"Someone may come in to lift, take a professionally instructed reformer Pilates session, watch a movie while doing cardio, practice yoga on the moon or use a private room to work, create or record a podcast.

"We want Amped to become a hub that fits into more parts of our members' lives. It is to give more people access to exceptional equipment, distinctive environments and experiences they will genuinely look forward to using."

Memberships start at US$14.99 a month for standard 24/7 gym floor access, sauna use, and basic functional workout zones.

The VIP Tier is between US$24.99 and US$29.99 a month which offers multi-club access, instructor-led group classes, and the specialised spaces, including the recovery facilities and monthly digital body composition scans.