It’s not just a boulder!
Bouldering Project Brooklyn – formerly known as Brooklyn Boulders — reopened its Gowanus gym on Jan. 1 after a massive renovation.
Tucked into the old Daily News Garage building on Degraw Street, the 16,00o-square-foot facility first opened in 2009. Bouldering, unlike traditional rock climbing, doesn’t use harnesses or ropes – climbers scale squat, geometric rock walls totally on their own. The transformed Bouldering Project seeks to expand to other forms of exercise — and to build community on and off the rock walls.
“If the pandemic has taught us anything, community and connection are invaluable,” said Quinn Ventura, general manager of Bouldering Project Brooklyn, in a statement. “With this renovation, we’ve expanded our climbing terrain, added a heated yoga studio, and new fitness equipment, all while preserving that unique Brooklyn vibe.”
Curious climbers can visit the facility to climb on their own or with friends, and the Bouldering Project also offers climbing classes for beginners and intermediate climbers. The gym’s yoga classes offer opportunities to sweat, stretch, and relax; and members can also take advantage of the strength training and exercise equipment — according to the Bouldering Project’s website, the gym will also be working with the community to create a calendar of guided fitness classes.
Brooklyn’s youngest climbers are invited to test out the dedicated youth zone, reserved for kids ages 5 to 13. With climbing walls tailored specifically for young hands, the youth zone will also offer programs like “Adventure Days” on school holidays and week-long “Youth Adventures,” which will focus on building skills and confidence. Once the Bouldering Project settles in to its new space, the team also plans to launch “Parent’s Night Out,” birthday parties, and other community activities.
The new Bouldering Project Brooklyn is also venturing into co-working. Thousands of New York City workers work from home, rather than in the office, and co-working spaces can offer a change of scenery and the chance to meet and talk with other people, easing some of the isolation of remote work. According to the Bouldering Project, studies show that co-working gives employees a boost in productivity and that many gym-goers want to see diverse services at their gyms — so they’re combining the two.
“Our space embodies the essence of the ‘project’ in our name,” said Kevin Jorgeson, head of product at Bouldering Project, in a statement. “We’re constantly evolving, learning, and never complacent. Bouldering Project isn’t just another gym; it’s a blueprint for how communities should unite, blending fitness and coworking in an evolving learning space. This is the future of fitness, and I’m stoked to be a part of it.”
Bouldering Project Brooklyn offers both prepaid and recurring monthly memberships, annual memberships, ten-visit punch cards, and day passes. For a limited time, some adult membership options are being offered at a discount to celebrate the grand reopening — adults can purchase a recurring monthly membership for $110, rather than the standard $120, or an annual membership for $1,100, as opposed to $1,200. Climbers can also rent chalk and climbing shoes at the front desk, or even crash pads to take out on outdoor bouldering adventures.
Ventura said Bouldering Project is more than just a space to exercise, but a place for people to grow physically and mentally while connecting with their neighbors and the community.
“We’re in the business of human connection,” she said. “Our space is designed to challenge and nurture far beyond the climbing walls.”
