Boulderz Climbing Centre, a much-loved “boutique” climbing gym located in the Junction Triangle recently embarked on a journey of expansion into a cavernous facility formerly occupied by a machining factory. A big part of the challenge was how to adapt, scale, and improve upon processes – welcoming visitors, equipment rentals, retail, and storage – involved in operating a climbing gym, while connecting these elements with a coherent gesture that invites and delineates movement using a visual language that evokes a sense of scale that is appropriate to the volume of the space and the larger climbing elements around it.

The design process involved numerous meetings with the clients to generate and validate solutions to suit the daily routines of the gym. The geometry of the front desk was determined by balancing the interaction between staff and visitors, and how the various steps from initial greeting to jumping onto a wall can be navigated without using overt signage while avoiding jarring pauses.

As the designer and fabricator, Studio Junction proposed and prototyped a unique shoe storage system that allowed ample room for expansion while ensuring easy access and ventilation. Parametric design techniques were used to finely tune the geometry, generate, and manage components to be CNC-milled. The design-build process ensured that the design is informed by first-hand fabrication experience, and that the build team can respond quickly to changes in design.