Archive for the ‘Expansion’ Category

Bel-Red Boulders “BRB”

Friday, May 31st, 2024

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 UPDATES: Winter 2024

Build a bouldering gym“, they say. “It’s easy,” they say.

Sure but did they also try raising the roof? During the rainy season! After a few city permitting delays and updates to architectural drawings, operation “raise the roof” is back in action with more progress being made each day.

Extra kudos to the team for keeping things “dry”. We know the extra windows and added height above the new boulders will all be worth it.

Follow us on Instagram for more progress updates, comments from our growing community and more: @edgeworks_brb

PROJECT DETAILS

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.

Bellevue Expansion Project

Friday, February 23rd, 2024

NOW OPEN!

After years of planning, a few roadblocks, and tons of incredible support from all levels of the Edgeworks staff, we can finally say THE WAIT IS OVER!

We are excited to announce that the new expansion space and renovation areas are OFFICIALLY OPEN, including:

  • 45ft walls with 49 additional lines of top rope and lead climbing
  • New training area featuring Kilter, Tension 2, campus board and hangboards
  • All new locker rooms with saunas (mens + womens)
  • 3 new ADA, gender neutral bathrooms
  • All new weight room with cardio equipment and bridge
  • Larger yoga studio with a growing class schedule
  • Expanded retail area, social space and new cubbies/storage options

Grab your harness and belay partner and come climb the new walls with us.

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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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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

Summer 2023 – Winter 2024 (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 + Facility Updates

Summer 2023 – Winter 2024 (in progress)

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 2023/24

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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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

How do I get progress updates?

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

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?

Construction is currently underway on our all new 26,000 sq ft bouldering only gym, Bel-Red Boulders. Located just down the street in the Evergreen Shopping Center, this all new facility will help fill the growing need for more climbing, training and fitness on the Eastside and for our greater Edgeworks community.

Follow the Edgeworks BRB Instagram account for more updates!

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, X (Twitter) and Threads.

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.

NEW! Facility Updates

Saturday, May 1st, 2021

Building a community where all climbers feel welcome + engaged.

With a front entry renovation in Seattle and an expansion project expected in Bellevue (stay tuned for details!), we expect that everyone will have a lot of questions. Below are a few of those answers. 

HONORING STONE GARDENS’ HISTORY: 

Undeniably, Stone Gardens is “The Climbers Gym” with 25 years experience “providing the best climbing at every experience level—from beginners to seasoned climbers—and a knowledgeable, friendly staff ready to help.” It is this long standing passion and drive that will stay with us as we carry through into the future. 

GROWTH

Also undeniable is the amount of growth that has happened in the sport of climbing since 1995, when the Seattle gym first opened. With all of this growth, comes change and with change comes opportunity. The biggest of which is the opportunity to expand the meaning of the word “climber” to be more inclusive and welcoming, and to repackage what it means to be “The Climbers Gym”.  

WHO IS A “CLIMBER”?

The days of the dirtbag climber might not be fully behind us (some of us can still dream! #vanlife), but today’s answer to the question of “who is a climber” is open to so much more potential and possibility. It is this exciting growth in diversity that has been a driving factor for our entire industry to be better, more inclusive and more modern. 

At Edgeworks, this is a challenge we have always embraced with excitement; believing that everyone should feel at home inside our gyms.

We’re working 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 run laps on the wall to 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 introduced to a sport that builds 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 space 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. 

WHY RETAIL? 

We can’t think of a better way to answer that question than with a question:
What’s the 2nd most popular thing climbers love to talk about most? GEAR. And that’s true for us too! 

In recent years, we’ve seen many of our beloved, locally owned gear shops close their doors. From Marmot Mountain Works in Bellevue and other similar shops in Seattle + Tacoma. These stores offered services that aren’t always easy to find with big retailers; leaving a gap that we can help fill. 

Our staff are experts in climbing gear and combining this knowledge with thoughtfully curated retail options for our members allows us to:

  1. Offer a complete user experience for all climbers; new and experienced. 
  2. Get you closer to the vendor with shoe demos, special orders, product questions, etc.
  3. Connect with our members and build community. 

WHAT ABOUT THE CLIMBING?

As an indoor climbing gym, our walls and our route setting program are our #1 products. In order to provide the best experience for our members and customers, it’s crucial that we keep diversity in mind as we work to update our facilities, build new walls, and develop our setting teams. 

We are committed to providing the time and resources to ensure that we’re meeting, if not exceeding, your expectations (and ours) with the following: 

  1. Route quality and density
  2. Variety of setters and routes; including complex, challenging and thoughtful moves
  3. Available, varied and accessible terrain

If at any point if feels like we’ve taken something away, trust us that we have a plan to provide something better in its place. 

EDGEWORKS CLIMBING + GUIDING

When our new outdoor signs are installed in Bellevue and Seattle, you’ll notice this new tagline on the outside of our buildings. As part of our rebrand in 2020, Edgeworks Climbing + Fitness and Edgeworks Climbing + Guiding were both adopted as 2 interchangeable taglines; the first to highlight that which our facilities offer and the second to highlight our outdoor programs. 

The decision to use “Climbing + Guiding” in both Bellevue and Seattle stem from multiple considerations: 

  1. The Seattle facility has a strong history and focus on climbing with little space dedicated to fitness. 
  2. As part of the agreement with Crossroads Shopping center in Bellevue, we’ve opted not to include “fitness” on the outside of the building but do have plans to grow our fitness offerings inside!
  3. Guiding is a huge part of who we are, what we do and why we do it. This is our chance to highlight our commitment to this program and share our favorite wild spaces with more of our community. 

We can’t wait to share these new spaces with our community!

Tacoma Expansion Project

Friday, November 30th, 2018

Expansion Project: Taller | Larger | Newer

NOW OPEN!

By now you’ve likely heard the news that Edgeworks has EXPANDED! With only a few finishing touches remaining, our TALLER, LARGER and NEWER climbing gym is NOW OPEN! Stop by and check out our fresh, new and updated facility.

We’re super stoked to start putting to use all of the new changes, additions and improvements to better serve the growing needs of the Edgeworks community. Stay tuned for more!

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FINISHING TOUCHES: November 2018

PHASE 4: SUITE 200 RENOVATIONS:  We did it! It’s month 11 of our 12 month expansion project and we’re fully open and operational in all areas with only a few finishing touches remaining.

Check out all the awesome new changes, additions and improvements:
– EXPANDED and UPDATED locker rooms – OPEN!
– EXPANDED weight & cardio rooms – OPEN!
– NEW upstairs Yoga studio – OPEN!

– Extended upstairs viewing area and community space – OPEN!
– NEW upstairs bathrooms – OPEN!
– NEW instruction wall – OPEN!
– NEW upstairs instruction/meeting room – 
OPEN!
– NEW campus trainingwall – OPEN!
– NEW systems board – OPEN!
– Expanded retail area – OPEN!
– NEW 45ft climbing walls – OPEN!

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the timeline for construction?
Phase 1: Project Planning
– 12 months (complete)
Expand into suite 100. Add nearly 7,000 sq ft of climbing surface (to our existing 10,000 sq ft). Climbing wall designed & constructed by Entre-Prise Climbing Walls. Raise the roof to 45 ft. Update existing spaces to better serve the Edgeworks community. 1 dream. 2 architects. 5 engineers. 8 different design/construction firms.

Phase 2: Raise the Roof – 2-3 months (complete)
The most complicated phase of the project. A 45ft building will be constructed inside of the existing building to house a taller climbing wall. Not only will this support the new roof, but also the existing building and new wall. 45 ft roof will offer the potential to set 50-60 ft long lines!

Phase 3: New Climbing Wall – 2-3 months (complete)
33 additional lines of roped climbing. Lead prow. Off-width flake. 2 cracks. Multi-pitch instructional ledges. Existing climbing walls will remain intact with a pass-through to the new climbing area created in the corner, near anchors 5-7. New opportunities to expand bouldering to the existing lead cave with exciting features not currently available on the boulder wall.

Phase 4: Suite 200 Renovations – 6 months  (complete)
NEW main entrance through suite 100. NEW improved front desk. NEW larger retail space. Expanded and updated locker rooms. 5x more space for cardio/weight equipment and strength classes! NEW upstairs yoga studio. NEW upstairs instruction room. Extended upstairs viewing area and community space. NEW instruction wall, offices and stairs.

What are the details and features of the new climbing wall; will it be taller?
– Designed and constructed by Entre-Prise Climbing Walls.
– Added nearly 7,000 sq ft of climbing surface (in addition to our existing 10,000).
– Raised the roof to 45 ft with the potential to set 50-60 ft long lines!
– Features include: 33 additional climbing lines, top rope, lead prow, flake, 2 cracks, multi-pitch instructional ledges.

What will happen to the existing walls?
Our original walls will remain intact with the exception of the Stem Wall (anchors 4-8) which have been removed to create a pass-through to the new climbing area.

Are you adding more bouldering?
Building the new lead prow has opened up opportunities to use the old lead cave (OLC) to create stellar boulder problems with exciting features not currently available on our boulder wall. So while the new expansion won’t include a bouldering wall, we have added quite a bit more bouldering!

Will you continue to offer fitness classes during construction?
Yes! We’ve worked with Westmark Construction to secure use of their “employee entrance”/ping pong room next door which has been set up as the designated Edgeworks Fitness Annex during construction. We will also have cardio equipment available throughout construction.

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 notification to all members. Follow us on Facebook to receive updates throughout the project.

Will membership prices increase?
Most likely, but not due to expansion. Our membership rates are evaluated and adjusted every Fall based on operating costs and value. Small yearly increases are predictable for our customers and allow us to better serve members and invest back into our facility, programs and employees.

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

If you have additional questions, please feel free to leave them in the comments below, on our Facebook page, or in the comment box located near the front desk. We’ll continue to add to this feed as more questions and details emerge.