Edgeworks All New! BOULDERING GYM

We’re “making more happen” at the Staples location at Evergreen Village in Bellevue! Announcing our newest project: “Bel-Red Boulders” … or “BRB” for short, because we know you’ll want to “be right back”.

Located just a few blocks away from our current Crossroads location, this all new 26,400 sq ft bouldering only gym will help fill the growing need for more climbing, training and fitness on the Eastside and for our greater Edgeworks community.

With the vision and intention to create a warm, modern, casual space that appeals to the Eastside community, this project is designed to meet the needs of urban climbers and weekend warriors alike.

CONSTRUCTION BEGINS Summer 2023

Construction of our Bel-Red Boulders project is slated to begin Summer 2023 with a completion date in early 2024.

Visit @edgeworks_brb for more details and follow us there for all the updates.

E/P USA CLIMBING WALLS 15,100 sq ft

Designed and constructed by E/P USA with flooring by Flashed, these new walls were designed to compliment and balance the wall features, angles and training components currently offered at our Crossroads location.

The walls at BRB will include a balance of slab, vert, and overhung terrain, featuring:

• 9,200 sq ft of climbing surface
• Up to 19 feet tall
• 95’ long Gallery Wall
• (2) 19’ Overhanging Features
• (5) Alcoves between 13’ and 16’ tall
• (2) Dedicated spray walls to enhance training opportunities, 30 degree and slab

Full-Fitness TRAINING AREA + Yoga Studio

Training is a focus here! Wanting to allow for strength training at many different levels of climbing and fitness, Bel-Red Boulders will offer a full training area with climbing-specific features, such as:

• (2) adjustable training boards
• Campus board
• Hangboard frame, with up to (12) hangboards and rails
• (2) Spray walls
• Free weights and racks
• Cardio machines
• Yoga Studio + Group Fitness Space

FACILITY FEATURES Locker Rooms + Saunas

In addition to gender neutral bathrooms that offer more usable, accessible space for everyone, BRB will also feature open access to sinks for easy handwashing between sessions and full locker rooms with showers, benches and saunas!

COMMUNITY Gathering Spaces

With every project we set out with the same goal, to build a space where everyone feels welcomed, challenged + engaged. Including features that promote downtime between sessions and accommodate remote work options, BRB can be your home away from home, work or school.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Why are you building another gym in Bellevue? Why not somewhere else?
Good question. Our best answer is opportunity and available space. Demand is still high on the eastside; our Bellevue Crossroads location is crowded and will be losing some bouldering due to expansion and Vertical World Redmond has closed.

This is also not our last project and we’re always excited when people ask us to bring Edgeworks to their communities! We’re also proud to be the only gym in the Seattle-area market to serve any portion of the south sound; Tacoma is in fact where we started and our gyms span the largest area between Seattle, Bellevue and Tacoma. But this is not our last project. We’re always seeking our next opportunity to expand the Edgeworks community to new areas.

Are there any plans to resurrect the development of a Tukwila location?
We really like the idea of the original Stone Gardens Tukwila project but those plans are no longer available. The project was started by Stone Gardens before the Seattle and Bellevue gyms joined Edgeworks and the Tukwila plans were not included as part of the transition. The building has since been sold and leased to other businesses.

Will access to Bel Red Boulders [BRB] be included with my Edgeworks membership?
[Yes] Adding BRB to the Edgeworks community will offer our members a greater variety of climbing terrain, training options, fitness classes and more!

Will you offer more youth programs?
[No] Kids are always welcome at Edgeworks and we remain committed to helping young climbers discover, learn and excel at climbing but the programming focus at Bel Red Boulders [BRB] will be a little different.

With the addition of BRB and the expansion project at Bellevue Crossroads, it is our overall vision to better serve our community as a whole, including climbers of all ages, all sizes, and all abilities – bringing more climbing to the eastside and making space for programming where and when it makes the most sense for everyone.

While you won’t see regular youth programs offered here at BRB, there’s a good chance you’ll see small groups from Team Edgeworks here from time to time – sharing the space, working problems and practicing for bouldering season.

Will membership prices increase?
Prices are adjusted every year, but not due to expansion. Since the very beginning, it’s been Edgeworks’ theory and practice that small yearly price increases provide transparent predictability for our members and allow us to continue our commitment to invest back into our facilities, programs, and employees.

Each year, we evaluate the following criteria that typically results in a monthly membership rate increase:

• operating costs and staff wages
• increases in membership value, benefits, access, and offerings
• future improvements and expansions

Thank you for your excitement and support! We couldn’t be more stoked to share this with all of you.

If you have additional questions, please feel free to leave them send them via our online Customer Feedback form. 

We’ll continue to add to this feed as more questions and details emerge.

Bringing MORE Climbing + Fitness to the Bellevue Community!

With a MAJOR expansion project currently underway, we’re excited to share with you our plans to make Edgeworks Bellevue bigger, better, more inclusive and more modern.

Building a community where all climbers feel welcomed, challenged + engaged. 

Our gyms are shared spaces for climbers of all ages, all sizes, and all abilities – from new climbers and fitness enthusiasts to elite/competitive climbers training for their next big goal or adventure. 

Our focus with this expansion project is to build a space where:  

• Seasoned climbers know they’ll still find the best, most challenging and fun boulder problems and routes. 
• Weekend warriors can maintain their endurance and train in the off season when they can’t get outside. 
• New climbers feel welcome and unintimidated as they walk through our door. 
• Kids can be integrated into a sport and community that builds respect, confidence, communication skills, responsibility, teamwork and a healthy dose of calculated risk. 
• Community happens, built upon a shared interest in climbing, fitness, and fun (and sometimes beer!). 

All in all, we aim to create a setting that feels active, vibrant and welcoming. Where people choose to hang out even if they aren’t climbing because they know that this is where they will find their people and it’s where they belong. 

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PROJECT TIMELINE + DETAILS:

Progress Updates:
05/31/2023: Yoga studio closing in preparation for tenant improvements to begin.
05/26/2023: All footing forms and rebar set – ready for concrete; waiting for city approval.
05/13/2023: Building footings and preparing for concrete pours; then the real fun can begin!
04/30/2023: Leveling the parking lot isn’t the most exciting thing but it’s progress.
03/27/2023: We officially broke ground on the expansion!
03/21/2023: Construction fencing installed. Please be aware of parking changes and plan ahead.

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Phase 1: Project Planning

4 years (complete; permits issued)

Details: In partnership with Crossroads’ overall expansion and development plans, an 8,400 square foot addition will be added to the south side of our building, featuring 10,400 sq ft of new climbing surface with walls designed and constructed by EP USA. ← The same folks who designed and built the competition climbing walls for the Olympics. This new addition will bring us to a total of 31,400 sq ft of climbing!

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Phase 2: Building Expansion

Spring-Fall 2023 (in progress)

Details: First, we need to expand our footprint to make room for the more exciting additions and updates. We’ll do so by busting through the south end of our building and extending out into the parking lot. 

In addition to the new climbing walls, this building expansion will make room for:

• All new women’s locker room with sauna 
• Single occupancy bathrooms
• 2nd floor mezzanine with a training area that includes training systems, campus board, hangboards and a great view of the new walls.

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Phase 3: Renovations + Updates

Summer/Fall 2023 

Details: Compared to other gyms in the Puget Sound, Edgeworks Bellevue is still pretty young – having opened in 2011 – but it could still use some updates to better serve our members and community, including:

• Updated and improved front entry with larger retail area
• Improved cubbies and storage options
• Community space for remote work, socializing and re-energizing
• Passthroughs and connections to the new climbing area
• Expanded and updated men’s locker room with sauna
• Dedicated group fitness area
• New weight training and cardio spaces

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Phase 4: Climbing Wall Construction

Fall/Winter 2023

Details: Designed and constructed by EP USA, we’re excited to provide our community with more rope climbing terrain, featuring: 

• 45ft walls with 49 additional lines of top rope and lead climbing
• Lead prow
• Off-width flake 
• Free form hand/finger crack 
• Multi-pitch instructional ledges
  … and more! 

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GRAND OPENING:

Winter 2023/24

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

When will construction begin?

We’re excited to announce the long awaited start of construction on our plans to make Edgeworks Bellevue bigger, better, and more inclusive. March 27, 2023, marked the start of construction and things are progressing on schedule.

Stay tuned here and/or follow our social media pages for regular updates:
Instagram | Facebook | Twitter

What are the details and features of the new climbing wall?

• Designed and constructed by EP USA.
• Adding nearly 10,400 sq ft of climbing surface (to our existing 21,000) 
• 45 ft tall with an overhanging lead prow creating the possibility for 50 ft long routes 
• Features include: 49 additional climbing lines, top rope, lead prow, flake, free form crack, and multi-pitch instructional ledges

Are you adding more bouldering?

Plans for more bouldering are included as part of a separate project. We’re excited to announce that construction will begin this summer on our all new 26,000 sq ft bouldering only gym.

Click here to learn more about Bel-Red Boulders!

What will happen to the existing walls?

South Bay Bouldering Walls
The majority of our existing walls will remain intact with the exception of The Cave in the South Bay. With its current design and steep overhang, these walls have always presented difficulties for our setting team and members. Therefore, this area will be opened up to create a pass-through to the new climbing area as well as a social gathering space.

While it’s never fun to take anything away, we feel confident in our plans to provide something more accessible and usable in its place. Including, access to all new walls, community work spaces for remote work or studying and a comfortable area to rest, recharge and connect before, during or after your climbing sessions. 

Pirate Ship + Youth Zone
Kids are always welcome at Edgeworks and we remain committed to helping young climbers discover, learn and excel at climbing. Similar to way we run our Youth Programs, starting kids out on the same climbing walls, routes, and holds as everyone else helps them develop a better understanding and awareness of climbing and the community that surrounds them.

Therefore, it’s time to “scuttle” the Pirate Ship. Removing it will allow space to create an all new weight training and cardio area.

Are there any plans to resurrect the development of a Tukwila location?

We really like the idea but the original Stone Gardens Tukwila project plans are no longer available. In the meantime, our existing partnership with Crossroads – coupled with their overall plans for expansion and development – are helping to make the Bellevue project possible.

Will you need to adjust business hours or close during construction?

It is our goal to maintain normal operating hours as much as possible during all phases of construction. If for any reason we need to open late or close early on certain days we will do our best to provide advanced notice to all members. Please check your email and be sure to follow our social media accounts to receive updates throughout the project, Instagram , Facebook and Twitter.

Will membership prices increase?

Yes, but not just due to expansion. Since the very beginning, it’s been Edgeworks’ theory and practice that small yearly price increases provide transparent predictability for our members and allow us to continue our commitment to invest back into our facilities, programs, and employees.

Each year, we evaluate the following criteria that typically results in a monthly membership rate increase: 

• operating costs and staff wages 
• increases in membership value, benefits, access, and offerings
• future improvements and expansions

_________________________________________________________________________

Thank you for your excitement and support! We’re stoked to share this with all of you.

If you have additional questions, please feel free to leave them in the comments below or send them via our online Customer Feedback form. 

We’ll continue to add to this feed as more questions and details emerge.

Our Summer Send Special is back!

Perfect for climbers who are only in town for the summer months or new members looking for a great deal on a new membership!

Membership Dates: Now – August 31, 2023

Purchase Now: only $209!

Click the link for your home gym to sign up and save!

Save on a summer of climbing! Now – August 31.

Purchase now to get the most out of this awesome deal and enjoy all the great perks + benefits that come with being an Edgeworks member, including:

• 3 Locations: Bellevue, Seattle + Tacoma
• Climbing: Ropes, Lead + Bouldering
• Instruction: FREE! Intro to Climbing Classes
• Guest Passes, Discounts and MORE!

The earlier you purchase, the better the deal – so don’t wait!

All summer memberships expire August 31, 2023 regardless of purchase date.

PRIDE 2023

Through conversations inspired and led by LGBTQ+ identifying staff and in collaboration with Queer Mountaineers and PFlag Bellevue Eastside, members of our staff-led DEI Advisory Committee have been working on ways to show support and create new connections with several events planned in June (National Pride Month) as well as July (Tacoma only).

Click the button for a full list of activities at each facility!
Pride events will appear in the green boxes or use the category option to sort by ‘Pride Month Events’.

COMMUNITY.

Together with professionalism, integrity and adventure, community is one of our core values. To us, it means “a welcoming group of climbing enthusiasts, adventure seekers, and friends connecting through our shared interests in climbing, fitness, and fun”. 

Each Pride Month we take the opportunity to reflect on what we’ve done and still need to do for LGBTQ+ folks in our communities.

Why do we celebrate Pride Month?

We recognize that diversity fuels the spirit of our staff and community. Our commitment to equity and inclusion across race, gender, age, religion, identity and experience builds a culture where difference is valued, innovation thrives and adventure is accessible to all.

What are we doing to support the LGBTQ+ community?

We are proud to be creating brave + inclusive spaces where all climbers of any gender, identity or sexual orientation feel accepted;  where you can challenge yourself, build your skills and know that this is a place where you belong.

What steps are we taking to accomplish this?

• Listening + responding to the needs of our staff, members + community
• Maintaining hiring practices to recruit + retain a diverse staff team
• Advancing a staff-led diversity, equity + inclusion committee
• Hiring experts to help identify + navigate our strengths/opportunities through discussion and trainings
• Building action steps to hold ourselves accountable to changes we want to see

What does this look like to our community:

• Monthly Queer Climb Nights at all locations; hosted by Queer Mountaineers
• Progress Pride flags in all facilities (year-round)
• Period products in all bathrooms (year-round)
• Pronouns on staff nametags
• Access to gender affirming bathrooms in all facilities; with improvements scheduled with facility updates in Bellevue
• Gender inclusive categories for competitions
• Celebrate Pride events + activities hosted at all locations during the month of June; and July in Tacoma
• Redefining who a “climber” is, can and should be by building a better, more inclusive community for all

We’re listening.

Click here to offer your thoughts, suggestions and feedback.

In 2022, we made cash donations to:

• The Trevor Project
• Lambert House
• PFLAG Bellevue Eastside
• Oasis Youth Center

Please consider joining us!

Climb With a Purpose

Thursday | June 1, 2023
Edgeworks Seattle is thrilled to host a Community Fundraiser Comp in collaboration with Washington Climbers Coalition to support and raise money for conservation projects and toilets in Vantage!

THE BASICS:

REGISTRATION:
Competitors must be a registered user on the KAYA Climb app; no additional cost
Download the KAYA Climb app to register.

• $20 (all proceeds benefit Washington Climbers Coalition)
• Open: Now – June 1
• Closes: After the first hour of the competition (at 7:00pm) so that flights can be created (see below)

SCHEDULE:
Thursday, June 1 | 6pm – 10pm

• 5pm-6pm: Competitor Check-in + Rules Meeting
• 6pm-9pm: Climb Time!
• 9pm-10pm: Awards + Social

FLIGHTS:
Instead of self-selecting into a category at the time of registration or guessing which category is right for you, competitors will be placed into “flights” based on their overall performance. Once scoring is complete, flights will be automatically generated within the KAYA app and prizes will be awarded to the top competitors in each flight.

For example, a competition with 100 competitors would result in 5 flights:

• Flight A: 1st – 20th place
• Flight B: 21st – 40th place
• Flight C: 41st – 60th place
• Flight D: 61st – 80th place
• Flight E: 81st – 100th place

PRIZES:
A selection of rad prizes will be awarded to the “top 3 competitors” in each flight, courtesy of The Mountaineers, Petzl, Edelrid, Patagonia, MiiR and Fremont Brewery.

EVENT DETAILS:

SCHEDULE
5:00pm-6:00pm | Competitor Check-in + Rules Meeting
6:00pm-9:00pm | Climb Time!
9:00pm-10:00pm | Awards + Social

RULES:
This a redpoint bouldering competition meaning that each route has been assigned a unique point value that is largely based on the level of difficulty.

• Points are gained only if the route is completed.
• Competitors will track each attempt in the Kaya app
• Tie-breaking scenarios, will be deducted 1 point per attempt up to 25 attempts per climb.
• Final scores will be the sum total of their top 5 climbs.

ABILITY LEVELS:
All climbers welcome! We’ll have 35+ boulders available for you to climb, designed to challenge competitors at every skill level.

CATEGORIES:
There are no categories to sign up for before the competition. Instead categories will be created after the climbing session is over and will be based on the finishing order of all participants.

AWARDS + RAFFLE PRIZES:

Prizes will be awarded to the top 3 finishers of each category. Participants do not need to be present to win.

WALL + GYM CLOSURES:

• Monday, May 29 | Old 45, Old 30 and New 45
• Tuesday, May 30 | Cardiac + Old 45, Old 30 and New 45
• Wednesday, May 31 | Walltopia + Cardiac + Old 45, Old 30 and New 45
• Thursday, June 1 | Walltopia + Cardiac + Old 45, Old 30 and New 45
  • After the competition ends, everything is back open!

Excellent Parking + Raffle Prizes!

May 1 – 31, 2023 – “Bike like the mountain is out!”

Join the “Bike to Edgeworks” Challenge.

It’s simple. Each time you ride your bike to Edgeworks to climb, take a fitness class, or workout you’ll receive one raffle ticket to be entered in a drawing for prizes including Edgeworks swag, FREE day passes, and more!

Plus, you get to enjoy all of these added benefits:

1. Skip the traffic
2. Find excellent parking
3. Save money
4. Help the environment
5. Improve your physical health
6. Improve your mental health

The more you ride, the more chances you have to WIN! So get on your bike and RIDE.

Fine Print:
– Tickets are limited to 1 per person/day for rides that occur during the month of May 2023 only.
– Tickets must be collected at the time you and your bike are at Edgeworks; sorry, no “oops, I forgots”.
– Raffle is open to everyone and all ages, including members and non-members.
– Drawing will take place Thursday, June 1, 2023.

Ride safe. Ride smart. And always securely lock your bike to one of our racks.

Earn Your Peaks!

February 1 – April 30, 2023
Put your membership to good use, add a little fun to your climbing sessions and earn a FREE t-shirt with our 7th annual members only 90-day challenge!

THE OBJECTIVE

Earn points by completing a list of challenges including over 100 different activities – from climbing, fitness and check-in challenges to attending socials, interacting with staff, fun training games/activities, dancing and more.

As points are achieved, 3 different levels of “peaks” are awarded and added to your FREE member challenge t-shirt. It takes 150 points to earn all 3 peaks; with over 300 points available!

First Peak: 65 points  |  Second Peak: 100 points  |  Third Peak: 150 points

THE LIST

New challenges are added every year including fitness, climbing games and skills based challenges with a distribution of points designed to engage both the over and under achievers among us. As proven in previous years, it is possible to earn all 3 peaks in one day (IAD) but there are also plenty of really fun challenges that are accessible to all skill levels and will keep you coming back for more points and peaks!

Now Available!
Get a sneak peek at the 2023 Challenge List for your home gym and start planning your strategies now.

THE SHIRT

Points will be tallied once a week by Edgeworks staff and T-shirts will be distributed upon achievement of the first peak (65 points). T-shirts will be labelled with the member’s name and added to a rolling cart to be located near the front desk. 

*Current stock/availability may delay the delivery of a t-shirt by 1-2 weeks.

Note: Feel free to wear and wash your shirt during the challenge but please refrain from using fabric softener until after all of your peaks have been added.

THE PEAKS

Iron-on peaks will be made available at the front desk along with simple to follow DIY instructions.

Or you can bring your shirt to the monthly Member Socials in March, April and May, when we’ll have staff available to add the peaks for you.

YOUR PROGRESS

Members are responsible for tracking their progress and checking the boxes on their challenge sheets as items are completed.

To entice those of us with an extra competitive spirit, we will update a public Challenge Board with everyone’s individual points – you know, just in case you want to see how you match up to the achievements of others.

6 WAYS TO FIND A CLIMBING PARTNER AT EDGEWORKS

Our community is full of friendly climbers willing to lend a catch when needed! And while starting from scratch can be a challenging or somewhat awkward endeavor, the rewards for reaching out to others can get you on the ropes with a new friend in no time. 

Here are 6 tried and true ways to find a climbing partner at Edgeworks. 

BRING A FRIEND! 

Members can (and should!) use their FREE guest passes to introduce their friends to climbing at Edgeworks. 

Each member receives: 

• 2 free 1st time guest passes per visit
• 1 free guest pass per month*

*Free guest pass use is limited to 1/every 30 days for guests.

ATTEND A COMMUNITY CLIMB NIGHT.

Pop in for one of our monthly community climb nights designed specifically to help make connecting with people easier. There are several to choose from each month; hit the link to access our events calendar for more details. BELLEVUE | SEATTLE | TACOMA

• Monthly Climber Socials
• Women’s Climb Nights / She Rocks
• Climbers of Color
• Queer Climb Nights
• College Night
• Family Night
• Military Night

ADD YOUR NAME TO THE BELAY FINDER SHEET.

Our belay finder sheet located at the front desk is a great way to share your information with other climbers and let you take control of the connections you make.  

• Add your name and contact information.
• Check the list for other climbers.
• Connect directly or let our staff help.

ASK OUR STAFF TO MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT.

Find yourself at the gym without a partner? Let our staff help! A simple announcement such as this will have you climbing with a new friend in no time: 

“Attention Edgeworks members and guests, if you were hoping to rope climb with someone today, it’s your lucky day! We have someone at the front desk who is looking for a belay partner. Come on up to the front desk for an introduction.”

JOIN AN ONLINE GROUP.

There are several online options available including: 

• Friends of Edgeworks Facebook Page (moderated by members, not staff)
• Edgeworks Bellevue Climbing Partners Facebook Page (moderated by members, not staff)

BE STRATEGIC.

• Be an awesome belayer. Chance opportunities to climb with new partners are more likely to turn into long-term partnerships if you’re a solid belayer and taking our Intro to Climbing course is a great way to meet other new climbers. This course is offered free for members; click the link to sign up online.
• Look for a group of three. Look for groups in the rope areas with an odd number of climbers and ask if they would like another belayer. There is always a chance that the odd person out would be happy to get climbing sooner.
• Warm up on the boulder walls. Bouldering provides an easy way to be on the lookout for other climbers just like you. If you are unsure how to approach a group of boulderers, try getting in line to start working a popular problem near them.  Usually, other climbers are happy to share what they may have figured out about a particular problem and help you solve the puzzle.