ASCEND, the expansive indoor rock climbing gym that opened in July 2017 in part of the former Duquesne brewery with epic views of the South Side, is opening another even bigger gym in South Fayette.

The company on Tuesday posted on Facebook and Instagram a 17-second aerial video of the new location — an undeveloped part of the Newbury Market plan that already is home to Topgolf Pittsburgh —  teasing the 2020 opening of “ASCEND Bridgeville.” (That South Hills borough, which is adjacent to South Fayette, may have more name recognition.)

Reached Wednesday afternoon, ASCEND Pittsburgh co-owner and its director of marketing and human resources, Paul Guarino, confirmed that the new location will be built in the coming months and be bigger than the current gym’s 27,000 square feet. One difference will be much taller walls for rope climbing and lead climbing.

It will eclipse the South Side gym’s wall max out at about 20 feet. “It’ll be much taller, comparable to that of other rope climbing facilities across the country,” he said. 

Mr. Guarino said the South Hills location also will have more climbing and bouldering areas for parties, for children and adults, and more room for its popular youth teams, camps, competitions and other events.

The new location also will offer fitness, training, yoga and other amenities. “It’s essentially going to be very similar to what we’re offering here on the South Side,” which will continue to hum. 

Details will be doled out gradually — for “opportunities to surprise our community,” he said.  

He lauded the strong support for the original location and said this second one won’t be the last. “We’re not shy about saying this is not it for us.” 

In December, the Post-Gazette Neighborhood named ASCEND one of “Seven spots that make Pittsburgh a better place.” 

The gym’s website is ascendpgh.com. 

Bob Batz Jr.: bbatz@post-gazette.com, 412-263-1930 and on Twitter @bobbatzjr.

First Published: January 23, 2019, 7:14 p.m.