Speaking
Research and future-oriented speaking on using emerging sports and activities to create spaces that foster connection, creativity, and well-being, replacing the outdated "Third Spaces" of the past.
The lines between living, working, and playing are increasingly blurred, leading to isolation and health challenges.
From climbing gyms to coworking, fitness to f&b, education to events, ramps to recovery, and performance centers to community centers - these are just some of the pieces that we mix to create businesses that inspire and thrive.
As an Architect and project developer, I design modern spaces that balance people, purpose, and profit, creating environments where communities can come together and thrive.
Select Speaking:
- 15,000+ YouTube Subscribers
- Berkshire Innovation Center
- Universal Creative/ Epic Universe
- Bridging The Gap Podcast
- Climbing Wall Association (CWA)
- Climbing Business Journal (CBJ)
- Indoor Climbing Expo (ICE)
- Northeastern University
- Roger Williams University
Select Press:
- Fast Company
- Forbes
- Mens Journal
- Outside
- Climbing
- Arch Daily
- Architect
- Design Boom
- Wescover
Chris Ryan AIA NCARB
Building Design & Development Consultant
Licensed Architect & Registered Contractor
As Seen In
SELECT TOPICS
The New Third Space(+)
The lines between life and work are increasingly blurred, and our digital lives leave people craving opportunities for in-person engagement and interaction.
That's where a new type of Third Space(+) comes in; spaces that curate an ecology of parts that support the different aspects of our lives; our work, play, and personal growth; spaces that inspire while fostering connection, creativity, and well-being.
Whether our visionary clients want to build a state-of-the-art climbing and fitness facility, an innovative coworking hub, or a vibrant community center, they are committed to creating spaces that improve our mental, physical, and social well-being.
By blending life, work, and play, while balancing vision with risk, we create strong businesses and spaces that are vital to our collective thriving.
Narrative Architecture
Using Story To Clarify Ideas, Organize Teams, and Create Better Building Projects
When people look at drawings or images of buildings, it’s easy to see them as just visual representations. In reality, they are ideas turned into images, embodying the goals and intent of the project.
A clear, compelling narrative should guide what the building is trying to achieve, without focusing on its appearance or aesthetics, since those can vary widely depending on personal opinions. While it’s important that people like the design, that comes last in the process. The primary focus should be on whether the narrative—the purpose behind the design—comes through in the drawings and user experience.
Once the building is complete and in use, there won’t be anyone to explain its intent. The design itself must communicate the story on a deep level, making the narrative crucial to creating better, more meaningful buildings.
Venues For Life:
Climbing Facility Layout & Design
Places which combine work, play, and “family” have the opportunity to be the backdrop of our lives, in ways that we never could have imagined just a few years ago.
I call these spaces Venues for Life, because that’s what they really are.
My work in the design and development of climbing facilities across the country over the last decade, and now across the world has shown me this, but it’s also opened the door to what the next iteration of these “Venues for Life” can be.
As someone who was fortunate to discover rock climbing nearly 27 years ago as a short, skinny, uninspired 15 year old, I can personally attest to the power and transformative power that an activity can have on our lives.
Balancing People, Purpose, and Profit
Building With Purpose
To successfully bring a meaningful building project to life, it's essential to balance passion with practical business needs. Focusing on People, Purpose, and Profit allows you to align your vision with long-term sustainability.
People: Create something that resonates with and serves a community.
Purpose: Build around a mission that reflects your passion and vision.
Profit: Ensure financial stability to fund the project’s growth and sustain its future.
Whether you’re a non-profit or a for-profit business, generating sufficient revenue is critical. It gives you the freedom to shape your project’s future, explore new opportunities, and continue developing what you’re passionate about.
Without a sustainable profit model, even the most inspiring project won’t last.
About Chris
For over 20 years, Chris Ryan has been designing, developing, and building award-winning projects and creating meaningful 3rd spaces that mix work and play, by balancing the people you're serving, the purpose you're sharing, and the profit you need to survive.
His background and experience as a licensed Architect, registered contractor, and commercial development executive over the past two decades mean he knows what it takes to bridge the gap between idea and open doors.
After years spent working for multidisciplinary architecture and design-build companies, learning how to balance design with cost and execution, Chris spent a decade designing next generation climbing gyms across the country.
Today, he pays every lesson learned forward to help his clients build meaningful third(+) spaces that end up firmly at the center of peoples’ lives.
An avid rock climber, surfer, skier, and former national-level competitive athlete, Chris has experienced firsthand how play can profoundly impact our lives.
His award-winning work has been written about in Fast Company and Forbes, and his YouTube channel has over 18,000+ subscribers.
He has taught design, construction, and professional practice courses at Roger Williams University and as a Visiting Lecturer at Northeastern University, and received his Master of Architecture degree from Harvard’s Graduate School of Design.
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