The Riveter

Awarded: Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine, Tenth Annual Best of the Blue Ridge Awards 2021, Best Climbing Gym; and Runner-up for Best Outdoor Start-Up

Seeking to add a significant draw to the region’s already booming craft beer and outdoor recreation economy, Riveter Property Holdings commissioned our team to design one of the first covered bike park and climbing gym facilities in the nation. Located just a stone’s throw from Sierra Nevada Brewery and the Asheville Regional Airport, the goal of the Riveter is to provide a competition ready climbing facility that also caters to mountain biking enthusiasts. While there are other smaller climbing facilities in Western NC, this will be the largest with the most diverse climbing offerings and will allow bikers to practice their craft regardless of weather.

The new 40,000 SF facility will offer 45-foot+ rope routes, 150+ rope lines, speed wall, kids climbing cove, Velosolutions pump park, progressive jump lines, progressive drops, cross country track, yoga studio, spin studio, multipurpose training / meeting space, locker rooms, and a libation station with a custom bar designed by local craftsmen. Additionally, there is a small retail component for climbing and riding equipment and gear.

To meet strict requirements that allow the facility to host competitions, we worked with Walltopia, an international climbing wall consultant. The Riveter is a functional industrial design with the exposed steel beam structure incorporated throughout. Working within a very tight budget, our design team utilized tilt-up concrete walls that are typically used in industrial buildings, on a smaller scale, to save money and complement the rugged outdoor aesthetic.