Project Spotlight: Contact Climbing

At Western Steel, we demonstrate the necessity for creativity and innovation based on real life experiences with our diverse portfolio of building projects. When the team at Contact Climbing were in the planning phase for their new facility, they explored the benefits and options of steel construction. Ultimately, a structural steel system by our team at Western Steel won over all other methods in terms of design flexibility, durability, construction time and cost.

Co-founders Jenny and Jeff Compas partnered with Chris and Jacquelyn Horton to achieve a structural steel building that incorporates open web trusses with support columns, multiple roof lines ranging from 26’7 to 59’0, and a mezzanine N-Deck floor system. There are two different styles of climbing, a bouldering area with walls measuring 14′ to 17′ high, and a 15,000 square foot roped area with 52′ climbing walls designed by Vertical Solutions. The team at Western Steel ensured project continuity from concept to completion, working directly with Vertical Solutions to create a detailed model for their engineers to accurately design the climbing walls. Point loads were added into the system to attach the climbing walls onto the open web trusses for support.