The Climbing Gym Growth Podcast shares real stories from climbing gym owners and operators. Each week, host Chris Lopez tracks down gym owners to learn how they attract new climbers, keep members engaged, and grow strong communities. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to scale, you’ll find actionable insights to help you grow your gym.
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 (https://derrington.co)
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/derrington.building.studio/ (https://www.instagram.com/darringtonbuildingstudio/)
Follow Climbing Gym Growth:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@climbinggymgrowth (https://www.youtube.com/@climbinggymgrowth)
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/climbinggymgrowth (https://www.instagram.com/climbinggymgrowth)
6 Aug 2026
Why Owning a Climbing Gym Is Harder Than Ever
Host [Host Name] interviews Andrew Coffey, owner of The Hive, discussing the evolving challenges and strategies for climbing gym growth and sustainability over the past 15 years.
31 Jan 2026
If You Pick the Wrong Market, It Won’t Work
Host Chris Lopez interviews Ivan Vargas and Steve Bittner, co-owners of Mustangs Bouldering, about strategic market selection and disciplined financial decisions for gym growth and break-even success.
8 Jan 2026
The Long Game: Wisdom From 10+ Years of Climbing Gym Growth
Host Aaron Parlier, owner of Center 45, shares insights on sustainable climbing gym growth through community and routesetting, not rapid expansion.
18 Dec 2025
From One Small Bouldering Gym to Six Locations
Host Andrew Coffey shares his journey of scaling The Hive Climbing from one bouldering gym to six locations, revealing key lessons in expansion and company culture.
Host [Host Name] interviews Andrew Hou of Uplift Climbing about building a community-first gym through strategic differentiation and a focus on member health.
20 Nov 2025
A Plan Is a Place to Deviate From
Host [Host Name] interviews Parker Sims, founder of Gravity Bear Climbing, discussing his journey opening a gym and the importance of flexible planning for success.
13 Nov 2025
Building a Modern Climbing Gym in Portland, OR
Host [Host Name] interviews Chris Marsaglia, co-founder of Tomo Bouldering Club, discussing building a successful climbing gym brand and community in a competitive market.
23 Oct 2025
Climbing Gym Management Lessons from Alaska Rock Gym
Host interviews Nicole Jolyn, General Manager of Alaska Rock Gym, sharing insights on refining management, marketing, and community building for climbing gym success.
9 Oct 2025
Building A Growth-Oriented Climbing Gym Culture
Host interviews Jonathan Brandt of Shift Climbing about cultivating a growth-oriented gym culture and leveraging Enlightened Hospitality for competitive advantage.
26 Aug 2025
From 30 Local Climbers to 300 Members in 2 Years
Host interviews Jesse Cheers and Brad Mathisen of Appalachian Bouldering Center about their journey from 30 to 300 members in two years, revealing strategies for climbing gym growth and community building.
Who has been a guest on Climbing Gym Growth Podcast
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Andrew Coffey
Ivan Vargas
Steve Bittner
Aaron Parlier
Andrew Hou
Reach and audience
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Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
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Questions about Climbing Gym Growth Podcast
Who hosts Climbing Gym Growth Podcast?
Climbing Gym Growth Podcast host the show. Published by Chris Lopez.
How often do new episodes come out?
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Does Climbing Gym Growth Podcast take guests?
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