Vertical Solutions
Climbing walls at Steep Rock West, Manhattan, NY
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Steep Rock West

Manhattan, NY

MLM Bouldering Static Training Bouldering Flooring Benches/Cubbies

Located in a beautiful facility near NYC’s Columbia University, Steep Rock West features a multi-floor design with 2,700 square feet of MLM bouldering walls. The Vertical Solutions team worked closely with Steep Rock Bouldering owner Michael Cesari to maintain the authenticity of the original gym while branching out into new territory as Steep Rock expanded its footprint.

The bouldering walls fill the ground floor of a nine-story, Columbia University–owned building, designed to handle serious traffic while drawing in passers-by from the street.

Fly-Through

The building Michael Cesari chose for expanding his bouldering gym brand is an incredibly bright and airy location in the Columbia University area. It has two entire walls of exterior windows and substantial clear-height to create a dramatic and open feeling upon entering.
The building Michael Cesari chose for expanding his bouldering gym brand is an incredibly bright and airy location in the Columbia University area. It has two entire walls of exterior windows and substantial clear-height to create a dramatic and open feeling upon entering.
A closer look at the various MLM-build climbing walls that make up the massive cave. Both sides are safely climbable as you would expect, although designing in correct fall zones was a crucial challenge that we overcame.
A closer look at the various MLM-build climbing walls that make up the massive cave. Both sides are safely climbable as you would expect, although designing in correct fall zones was a crucial challenge that we overcame.
The south side exterior wall of the nine-story Columbia University building, which has a phenomenal view of the ground-floor climbing within. The climbing wall design was purposely positioned to be looked at both from climbers inside and passers-by outside.
The south side exterior wall of the nine-story Columbia University building, which has a phenomenal view of the ground-floor climbing within. The climbing wall design was purposely positioned to be looked at both from climbers inside and passers-by outside.
A backside view of the immense cave featured on the ground floor of bouldering. As with the main side, intricate and seamless hardwood features were carried through.
A backside view of the immense cave featured on the ground floor of bouldering. As with the main side, intricate and seamless hardwood features were carried through.
Not to be forgotten is the second floor of bouldering on a mezzanine where you can still fill connected to the action below. This increased his climber capacity without breaking the bank on adding physical floor area.
Not to be forgotten is the second floor of bouldering on a mezzanine where you can still fill connected to the action below. This increased his climber capacity without breaking the bank on adding physical floor area.
The end cap of the bouldering walls upstairs on the mezzanine. While the height of this section is limited to one-story, Steep Rock Bouldering is already known for its creative walls using single-story height throughout the entirety of its original location on the Upper East Side.
The end cap of the bouldering walls upstairs on the mezzanine. While the height of this section is limited to one-story, Steep Rock Bouldering is already known for its creative walls using single-story height throughout the entirety of its original location on the Upper East Side.
One more angle of the mezzanine bouldering walls upstairs. A hardwood stripe was carried from beginning to end, visually accenting the space.
One more angle of the mezzanine bouldering walls upstairs. A hardwood stripe was carried from beginning to end, visually accenting the space.
Looking from the mezzanine downstairs at the backside of the bouldering cave below. Owner Michael Cesari wanted to carry his bouldering-specific brand's authenticity over to this new location while simultaneously creating something visually stunning from the outside to make use of the buildings impressive glass exterior.
Looking from the mezzanine downstairs at the backside of the bouldering cave below. Owner Michael Cesari wanted to carry his bouldering-specific brand's authenticity over to this new location while simultaneously creating something visually stunning from the outside to make use of the buildings impressive glass exterior.
Looking up from the underside of the fully climbable cave, and your choice of problems leading to/from both sides.
Looking up from the underside of the fully climbable cave, and your choice of problems leading to/from both sides.
Even in a tight space you can still incorporate room for training systems, as seen here where the backside of the lower bouldering area was designed to accommodate exactly that.
Even in a tight space you can still incorporate room for training systems, as seen here where the backside of the lower bouldering area was designed to accommodate exactly that.
Looking through the cave from the backside, you can get a feel for how well-lit this facility is, as compared to the challenge owner Cesari had creating this at his original location.
Looking through the cave from the backside, you can get a feel for how well-lit this facility is, as compared to the challenge owner Cesari had creating this at his original location.
Another view of looking west down the full length of the indoor climbing gym. Choosing a building such as this one owned by Columbia University, nothing short of a stand-out project would be acceptable by Vertical Solutions standards since almost all of our work is on-display 24/7 to the public.
Another view of looking west down the full length of the indoor climbing gym. Choosing a building such as this one owned by Columbia University, nothing short of a stand-out project would be acceptable by Vertical Solutions standards since almost all of our work is on-display 24/7 to the public.
Six unique facets join together here on this bouldering cave detail. It takes a tremendous amount of work ahead of time by our designers to ensure that when their work gets manufactured and installed with a fabricated structure, it comes together seamlessly onsite just like it did here.
Six unique facets join together here on this bouldering cave detail. It takes a tremendous amount of work ahead of time by our designers to ensure that when their work gets manufactured and installed with a fabricated structure, it comes together seamlessly onsite just like it did here.
A perpendicular view to the lower bouldering wall which gives you a clear view of the hardwood details designed-in to carry over from each facet to the next.
A perpendicular view to the lower bouldering wall which gives you a clear view of the hardwood details designed-in to carry over from each facet to the next.
The length of this lower bouldering area is impressive even before you consider how much capacity the cave and backside also add for indoor climbers. Two hardwood stripe details carry the entire length of the walls and help accentuate the climbing wall features.
The length of this lower bouldering area is impressive even before you consider how much capacity the cave and backside also add for indoor climbers. Two hardwood stripe details carry the entire length of the walls and help accentuate the climbing wall features.
It would have been easy to come into this space and pursue the need to maximize the climbing square footage, but that wouldn't have been authentic to the Steep Rock Bouldering brand that Michael Cesari created. Instead, together with Vertical Solutions, he created a project that was stunning enough to be put on display in New York City and maintain his devotion to the climbing community simultaneously.
It would have been easy to come into this space and pursue the need to maximize the climbing square footage, but that wouldn't have been authentic to the Steep Rock Bouldering brand that Michael Cesari created. Instead, together with Vertical Solutions, he created a project that was stunning enough to be put on display in New York City and maintain his devotion to the climbing community simultaneously.
As with the original indoor climbing gym on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, this Columbia University location carries the brand's love for hardwood details throughout the entry and check-in desk as well as accent features like storage, benches and even table tennis.
As with the original indoor climbing gym on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, this Columbia University location carries the brand's love for hardwood details throughout the entry and check-in desk as well as accent features like storage, benches and even table tennis.
Looking just over to the left when you enter gives the climber a quick view of what to expect once they throw on their shoes and get to work. Including the locker room and gym floors, this facility actually has four floors of space in-all.
Looking just over to the left when you enter gives the climber a quick view of what to expect once they throw on their shoes and get to work. Including the locker room and gym floors, this facility actually has four floors of space in-all.
Creating an indoor climbing gym in an architecturally-stunning building such as this one has its challenges to compliment the inherent design. Vertical Solutions worked with owner Cesari to keep a partial view of the climbing wall structure visible to play-off the visible framework of the glass facade.
Creating an indoor climbing gym in an architecturally-stunning building such as this one has its challenges to compliment the inherent design. Vertical Solutions worked with owner Cesari to keep a partial view of the climbing wall structure visible to play-off the visible framework of the glass facade.