Building a climbing gym is a lot more complicated than putting climbing walls inside a building.

In this episode, I'm joined by Tim Derrington of Derrington Building Studio, an architect who has worked on six climbing gym designs, including projects for Crux Climbing Center.

We discuss the hidden challenges of designing and building climbing gyms, from unexpected construction costs and complicated mechanical systems to creating spaces that people actually want to spend time in.

Tim shares practical advice on avoiding expensive construction mistakes, deciding where to save money, and designing gyms that reflect their brand and improve the member experience. We also explore how climbing gym design has evolved and what the next generation of climbing gyms might look like.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction
01:06 – Tim's background in climbing gym architecture
03:24 – Unexpected construction challenges
06:55 – How climbing gym design has evolved
08:50 – How architecture shapes a gym's brand
12:00 – Designing a gym that stands out from competitors
15:38 – Lessons from other industries
16:30 – Creating spaces where people want to spend time
20:23 – The biggest mistakes when opening a climbing gym
22:19 – Where to cut 20% from your construction budget
24:49 – The hidden complexity of building climbing gyms
26:52 – HVAC, chalk filtration, and facility maintenance
32:35 – What an architect notices when entering a climbing gym
35:19 – Designing better flow and member experiences
40:23 – The future of climbing gym design
44:22 – Three design decisions every gym owner should get right

Connect with Tim:

Website: https://derrington.co

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/derrington.building.studio/

Follow Climbing Gym Growth:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@climbinggymgrowth

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/climbinggymgrowth

Andrew Coffey returns to the podcast to talk about where The Hive is today, nearly 15 years after opening his first gym.

We dive into The Hive's current renovation, how competition has changed over the past decade, why market research has become essential, and what Andrew believes the next five years look like for climbing gyms.

Whether you're opening your first gym or operating multiple locations, this episode is packed with practical lessons on design, marketing, retention, and long-term sustainability.

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Chapters:

01:26 - Renovating The Hive's North Shore location

12:57 - Gathering community feedback before a renovation

16:35 - Training areas, boards & fitness space decisions

18:31 - The cost of closing a gym for renovations

22:16 - Lessons from designing climbing gyms for 15 years

29:55 - How competition has changed over the past decade

34:32 - Building new climbers instead of competing for existing ones

35:18 - Simplifying vs. expanding as a business

38:05 - Market research that changed The Hive's marketing strategy

41:53 - Measuring marketing ROI

44:32 - What happens after someone's first visit?

49:07 - Inflation, rising costs & pricing challenges

53:44 - Predictions for the next five years of climbing gyms

59:22 - Why profitability matters more than ever

01:02:17 - Hiring, leadership & building a great team

01:06:18 - Finding the "one thing" that moves the business forward

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Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@climbinggymgrowth

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/climbinggymgrowth

In this episode of the Climbing Gym Growth Podcast, Chris Lopez chats with Ivan Vargas and Steve Bittner, co-owners of Mustangs Bouldering, for a conversation about market selection, risk, and how to break even.

Mustangs opened without SBA loans, without heavy marketing, and in a smaller market by making disciplined decisions around location, rent, and other expenses.

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Show Notes:

00:00 – Intro

04:00 – Backgrounds in climbing and the industry

07:30 – Searching for the right space

10:30 – Why Mustangs chose bouldering only

14:30 – Competition myths in smaller markets

18:30 – Organic growth vs paid marketing

23:30 – Route setting philosophy and surprise

27:30 – Churn, seasonality, and outdoorsy markets

35:30 – Designing for early break-even

41:30 – Building the gym themselves to survive

48:30 – The mental weight of ownership

56:30 – Hard advice: markets matter

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Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@climbinggymgrowth

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/climbinggymgrowth

Check us out at: https://climbinggymgrowth.com/