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