Albuquerque’s Rock Climbing Gym to Expand to 23,000 Sq. Ft. after Relocation, $4M Renovation

By Anca Gagiuc, Associate Editor

New Mexico’s largest indoor rock climbing gym is soon to become the largest one in the Southwest. A $4 million renovation commenced for Albuquerque’s Stone Age Climbing Gym that relocates to the former Spa & Billiard World store at 4130 Cutler Ave. NE, just off of Interstate 40 and Carlisle. 

The current site has 9,600 square feet of floor space and over 12,000 square feet of climbing wall, and after the expansion the site will encompass 23,000 square feet.  “We’d been looking for space for three years. The requirements for this business are very unique — you need very tall ceilings, easy access and plenty of parking,” told Albuquerque Business First Bryan Pletta, owner of Stone Age.

The gym originally opened in 1997 in a 3,800 square feet space and expanded in 2004 by 5,000 square feet with the acquisition of a warehouse, according to its website.

Edward Fitzgerald/Architects, the architect for the project, is using sustainable design features including a 60-kilowatt active solar PV system and xeric landscape. Everything will be custom built, just as the rest of the newest climbing gyms across the country. The walls will be 43 feet tall, compared to 28 feet currently.

The brokers of the transaction were NAI Maestas & Ward’s Brett Hills and Jim Hakeem. The general contractor on the development is Klinger Constructors, and the completion date is set for January 2014.

 Photo courtesy of Stone Age Climbing Gym.