Turning Climbing Visions Into Open Gyms
From idea to open doors
Chris Ryan helps founders and owner-operators align real estate, capital, routesetting, programming, and design early — so ambitious gym projects don't stall, overrun budgets, or die before opening.
Chris From first concept through opening day, he works as a strategic development partner — helping turn complex climbing gym concepts into thriving, community-driven facilities that support training, play, and connection.
Chris Ryan - AIA, NCARB
Building Design & Development Consultant
Licensed Architect & Registered Contractor
Board Member & Speaker
Trusted By
It's not simply enough to exist as a climbing facility anymore, which is why we're asking "what else?".
What else can we do with our space, how else can we imagine using it, how can we bring in more people, and what's the future we're looking to create?
Track Record
Clients opened 9 new facilities in the last 3 years
Projects valued at over $90m
4 businesses open first location
Businesses up to $5bn in revenue
1 business franchise their model
Helped 7 businesses raise funds
17 climbing and dedicated work/ play facilities
Worked on 5 continents
We help you take a good idea and turn it into a great climbing project
Win over key stakeholders by balancing vision and risk, to connect ideas and concepts with visualizations, strategy, and the bottom line.
How We Do It
Design Visualization
Bring your concept to life
Envision and understand your project by bringing your vision to life to ensure it aligns with your goals.
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See what your vision could be and test ideas
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Build support for your project
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Conceptualize what's next
Financial Analysis
Balance investment with returns
High-level Financial Planning & Analysis that balances all the parts of your project, so that you only build what you need.
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Balance vision with the reality of finances and investment
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Balance business model and investment with returns
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Determine how best to use every dollar
Strategic Planning
Map your path forward
Strategize and organize your entire project from start to finish, so you know exactly what to do next at any given moment.
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Working as your trusted strategic partner
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Bridge the gap from idea to open doors
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Determine milestones and reduce delays
READY TO TAKE THE FIRST STEP?
Talk with Chris to get quick feedback on your ideas and recommendations to help you move forward.
Testimonials
"The architectural schematics are one thing, but the intangibles were also arguably even more important for me... having done a bunch of places like these before.
It's given me the tools to validate the concept and actually move forward."
Thor & Janna
Project Owner
"Adding those kind of visuals really changed the game for people, and made a signifigant difference, and a much stronger view of the project.
Actually increasing the attractiveness of the project for other people."
Mike P.
Owner- The Knot
"Guiding us through the conversation to really refine who we are has been a tremendous help, honestly, we couldn't have done it without you.
The ability to think through the space wisely, and not putting in things that were unnecessary... you were a great moderator."
Edwin and Colin
Founders - Summit City Climbing
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About
Chris Ryan AIA, NCARB
Development Expertise for Complex, Activity-Driven Projects:
From Vision to Open Doors
Chris Ryan is a development consultant who helps founders, operators, and owners turn bold ideas into real, operating places. His work centers on early, high-value decision-making—bridging vision, finance, feasibility, and construction strategy—so projects move confidently from concept to open doors rather than stalling on paper.
With over 20 years of experience as an architect, developer, builder, and former development executive, Chris brings a rare mix of strategic, financial, and executional insight to complex projects. Just as central is a lifetime spent at a high level in climbing, skiing, surfing, and other action sports, including national-level competition. These experiences shape how he understands risk, progression, performance, and community, and directly inform how he helps clients develop places that drive engagement, long-term performance, and strong returns while protecting the downside of invested capital.
Chris specializes in next-generation Third Places and experiential real estate—projects that blend work, play, and community into resilient, activity-driven ecosystems. His work has been featured in Fast Company and Forbes, and he has taught design and professional practice at Roger Williams University and Northeastern University. He holds a Master of Architecture from Harvard Graduate School of Design.
- Licensed Architect (AIA, NCARB)
- Registered Contractor (GC)
- Former VP Development (2012-2020)
- College & Graduate School Professor (2011-2021)
- Master of Architecture - Harvard GSD '09
- Nationally Ranked Climber (early 2000s)
- Climbing Wall Designer (2001-5005)
- Bachelor of Environmental Design - CU Boulder '02
- Eagle Scout
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