Allez Up: Abandoned Silos Turned Rock-Climbing Gym in Montreal

The closing of a sugar refinery in Montréal sounds like the kinda thing Springsteen would sing a melancholy verse about: “Well they’re closing down the old sugar mill, I know there’s always Splenda, but yet it haunts me still….eh? “Cheer up, Canadian Bruce! The chaps and chapettes at north-of-the-border firm Smith Vigeant Architects have taken the abandoned silos of the old Redpath sugar refinery and turned it into an indoor rock-climbing mecca titled Allez Up.

They’ve even paid homage to the sweet old days by having the wall formations resemble sugar cliffs. Whether you’re a novice or that guy from 127 Hours, you’ll find a fun challenge here. Huge windows let in plenty of natural light and almost make you forget you’re climbing in a former sugar refinery. Now if only Bruce could learn to forget.