The Foundry – Printers Row CrossFit

Excellent trainers and a beautiful facility! I will be returning to this box the next time I am in Chicago!

Dropped in here on a business trip… Good coaching! I picked up a few things that I’ve never heard before, which were insanely helpful for my handstand push-​ups. My girlfriend and I both enjoyed the workout. We will be dropping in again when in Chicago.

I started CrossFit and and they were very professional they were also very patient and explains all the movements correctly so I wouldn’t get hurt I would definitely recommend this place for anyone trying to get into shape and starting to CrossFit!!!

LOVE The Foundry!
I’m new to CrossFit, so I can’t compare this box to any other one. However, I have been to many different gyms, and this is by far my favorite. The space is clean (I’m a clean freak, so trust me!), spacious, and just plain awesome. Coaches are incredible — friendly, warm, knowledgeable, and above all, they prioritize everyone’s safety!
I think my biggest surprise was the incredible community focused atmosphere. I’ve made some new friends, and continue to make friends with every class I take. Even though every class has a huge range of fitness levels/​abilities, I’ve never felt anything but supported and encouraged by both the coaches and my peers.
I know a lot of people are intimidated to try CrossFit (I definitely was), and I’d be lying if I said that I’m never intimidated anymore. However, while I may still feel intimidated, I’m ALSO feeling this incredible surge in confidence! My mindset has shifted from «OMG I can’t do that» to «OMG that looks hard… I’m going to try that!»
I didn’t have any specific physical goals other than «get stronger», but I can tell you that just after a few months, I’ve definitely put on muscle and look more toned. Yay!
Long story short, I’m officially hooked :)

I first joined this gym about a year ago, just looking to get into Crossfit. My friend who lived here before I did was already a member and suggested I join. I was skeptical because of all the negative things you hear about Crossfit. Well I’m here to tell you The Foundry puts all that negativity to rest. Not only was the staff extremely knowledgeable on physiology of working out, but were also very encouraging and helpful with

How about 10 Stars! This is coming from someone who has struggled working out my whole life! I’ve been eyeing The Foundry for two years. I’ve tried other places, hired trainers, and sometimes gone months without exercising at all. The staff and community at the Foundry are the absolute best! The Foundations class was wonderful and very non-​threatening. Maria and Zach are awesome, patient coaches and spent a lot of time explaining and demonstrating many of the exercises. I am weak and overweight, yet not for one moment have I felt belittled or that I don’t belong. The coaches have helped me conquer fears that seem so tiny to the outside world but none the less real to me (jumping). I have spent most my time at the Printers Row location. Jeff and Andrew are two of the best coaches I have ever met! Their mannerisms, which seem so simple but are poorly neglected at other gyms, are genuine. They are quick to modify any exercise that is assigned, and still make it challenging for me. I honestly want to spend the second half of my life in a community like this one! Put all fears aside and go for it!

Ok… so I drank the Kool-​Aid.
I’ve been wanting to try CrossFit for about a year and a half. When I changed companies and buildings, I was out of a gym… crap! Unilocal to the rescue. What’s a good gym that’s close to my office? The Foundry. OMG, it’s a CrossFit gym… and now I’m nervous.
Let me put your nerves to rest, The Foundry is AMAZING. I walked into the Printers Row location to check it out and Justin answered every question that I had. After I get out of the Foundations classes, will you watch me to make sure I’m doing okay? Yes (and he does!). Am I going to be uncomfortable when I’m in class with a bunch of people that have been doing this forever? (He said no, because everyone is very helpful, nice, and has been the new kid in class. However, I was super nervous, so I found a friend from my Foundations class to help ease the pain of being the newbie in class on the first day. That helped a lot).
The coaches are amazing and will work with you when you just don’t grasp something. (Thanks Zach)
Zach and Maria teach the Foundations course. They are both very patient, nice, energetic, friendly, and funny. They will make you feel comfortable.
I’ve become a regular at Printer’s Row so I see Justin and Andrew. Both of them are very patient and work with me on my form. They give me tips on how to do things better. They help me modify to beginners moves so that I don’t kill myself trying to keep up with the big dogs. It’s nice to have people in your corner watching over you, and wanting you to do your best. Meg. Omg. She’s just hysterical. I’ve only been to one of her classes (I’ve only been with The Foundry since the beginning of the month). I will come to her classes as often as I possibly can. You’ll workout really hard and get a good laugh in.
Besides the regular CrossFit classes, I’ve come to mobility (ohhhh, I’m stretchy) and Team CrossFit (it’s a hard and awesome workout).
Both locations are very clean. They have top of the line equipment… everything you need to get your crossfitting ass in shape.
p. s. With your membership, you can go to both gyms.
Since I go to both gyms, I’m posting in both spots.

I travel a lot and have dropped in at a lot of boxes and this one is fantastic! Great coaching (Andrew), nice facility and equipment and friendly members. Thanks for a great workout!

I work out at different Cossfit gyms while traveling. The Foundry is a place with solid coaches who are committed, informative and attentive. The athletes are supportive and welcoming to visitors. I recommend the Foundry to visitors and Chicago residents.

Great CrossFit facility and excellent coaching. Since joining three months ago, I’ve already been able to notice improvements in strength and endurance.
A free «intro class» for new potential members is available twice weekly. During the intro, there was no pressure to join immediately.
Equipment is top notch. Members range from competitor level to beginner.

I’ve been at The Foundry since they opened in mid-​2012 and I will never go to another box (except maybe their new West Gate locaiton).
I did CrossFit at another box for about a year and a half before I came to the Foundry. The gains I’ve made in strength, endurance, and skills attest to the great programming and coaching you get here.
The equipment is all from Rogue Fitness — it’s top notch, and unique in that we use equipment that a lot of gyms don’t have. Ropes, sleds, Atlas stones, kegs, large tires, plus the typical barbells, kettlebells, dumbbells, and pull-​up rig with rings that you normally see at CrossFit boxes.
Working out here is the highlight of my day, and I adore the coaching staff. They are not just my coaches, they are my friends. My teammates at The Foundry look out for each other, and we genuinely want each other to be awesome. It’s a great community.
If you’re looking for a great group of people and a super challenging workout, check out this place. If you happen to show up at 5am, say hello!
Bonus: I’m dating someone awesome that I met from the gym. Win!

I was a drop-​in visitor to this box while on vacation.
The staff is very knowledgeable and approachable.
They helped me out with my Power Clean significantly.
Facilities are well kept.
A very diverse clientele which I find to always be a good thing.
Most importantly, they foster a very positive gym culture.
…and they will work you thoroughly.

Best CrossFit box I’ve been to! A competitive triathlete and endurance runner, I came to the Foundry (Printer’s Row location) to build muscular strength, which was lacking in my endurance training. Over the course of a year, I smashed my times in everything from the 5K to the marathon (26.2 miles) to the half-​ironman, and made the podium in a midwest regional triathlon. I lost weight, gained muscle tone, ran faster, felt better, and was more self-​confident.
The Foundry’s programming is solid with continuously changing WODs so you work all muscle groups and are never bored. The coaches will challenge and push you, but are friendly and helpful (especially with scaling weights)… they truly care about the athletes of all fitness levels. The other athletes are supportive and diverse; there is no air of elitism and it’s easy to make friends here. The facilities are modern and clean with new equipment, towel service in the locker rooms, excellent sound system, and take-​out paleo/​clean eating meal options. The gym is also located downtown and near many trains/​buses.
I was really sad to leave the Foundry when I finished grad school and a new job required me to move to NYC. I highly recommend the Foundry– you will not be disappointed!

I happened to be in town on business for a few days and wanted to get some crossfit workouts in while I was away from home. I contacted The Foundry and dropped-​in. I workout at a number of boxes while on the road and this group does a great job. Good facilities, great instruction, and I really enjoyed the WODs. I would highly recommend this box for you to check out and also out of towners. Thanks Foundry team for the workouts! Keep up the great work.

Excellent facilities, coaches, and programming. You will not get a better crossfit experience anywhere else in Chicago. They have a great sense of community here, too, so lots of support with training, information, and support.
Coaching is superior. Eye-​level training, meaning they watch your form and correct you. They don’t just dump you into a room and say go at it, they want you to get better.
I highly recommend this CrossFit facility to anyone researching boxes, gyms, etc. Been here about a year and have had excellent results. They put you in a position to succeed.

This is my first ever Unilocal review, but I felt a need to share my experience at The Foundry — Printers Row Crossfit. SO PLEASE HOP ON AND EXPERIENCE MY JOURNEY!!!
For those that share my A.D.D., here is the quick read — The Foundry’s fantastic location (downtown, close to work, just south of the loop and right off the redline), made it easy for me to regularly experience the coaches, facilities and philosophy at The Foundry.
* THE COACHES are instrumental in teaching and motivating me.
* THE FACILITIES are new, clean, high tech and provide everything you need in a fitness center including locker/​shower rooms, towel service, food from the RX Grill and don’t forget the significant sound system.
* THE PHILOSOPHY (Crossfit, Paleo etc) just simply works!!!
As a result of this over the past 9 months… I have lost over 20 lbs, increased my strength, stamina and flexibility… and my blood pressure and cholesterol (which were habitually high) are now back in line. So stop by The Foundry — Printers Row Crossfit and create your own journey of success.
Now, on to the full story — I have been an active gym member for 20 years and have never really let myself «go to shit». However, I have found that I have annual peaks and valleys in not only my commitment to the gym, but also in my overall health and fitness. Some stretches I felt great about myself, and some long 20+ lb stretches, not so great.
At almost (OK not almost)… at 40 years old, I have had some regular bad news during my annual doctors visits. Each year a few lbs were added, my blood pressure up a few points and my cholesterol almost always in the «high» range. Each year, the kind Dr. Glynn nicely indicated that I had better get it all under control or a regular medication regiment was on the way.
In May 2012 I was up to my heaviest ever…226 lbs, and my blood pressure and cholesterol were at an all-​time high. I needed a change! It had been 5 years of ‘at risk’ condition and 5 years of a similar workout routine. Yoga and running once a week, in the gym on the weights a few times. But the results were mediocre at best.
Timing couldn’t have been better, since in June of 2012, I was introduced to the «not quite open yet, but doing WoD’s (Crossfit, Workouts of the Day) in the park» The Foundry– Printers Row Crossfit.
I skeptically attended my first trial WoD, and was instantly intrigued. Something I knew from day one was… this is going to be different, and… these guys know their shit. Justin, Brad and now Jon and Noah are fantastic examples of what happens when passion meets knowledge.
In the past 10 months, I have not only seen people of all ages, sizes, sexes, motivation and ability, succeed and improve, I personally have seen weekly and monthly benefits. But none more impressive than the benefits I saw in the past few month. In April I visited Dr. Glynn again. He was impressed with my weight loss, but more important was my overall improved health. Especially my blood pressure and cholesterol counts. They significantly improved over last year and were back in the healthy or normal range. This is what it’s all about people…
…but wait! Is that all it’s about? I don’t think so. A few months ago some friends talked me into competing in the Tough Mudder. Probably the toughest adventure race out there. 12 miles in fields, forests and mud. 22 significant obstacles with oh-​so-​creative names such as Arctic Enema and Trench Warfare. For weeks prior to the event, my teammates participated in twice weekly «Mudder Training». They hit the trails and ran 5 – 8 miles while throwing in some activities. My work and travel schedule prevented me from every training session. Instead I just kept going to The Foundry and pushing myself on the WoDs. As the Mudder approached I was getting more and more concerned that I might not be ready for this. I told my teammates that I felt pretty good thanks to Crossfit (however inside I was kind of freaking out). They insisted Crossfit WOULD NOT HELP ME!!!
Competition day arrived. I suited up, took the course and I never looked back. Thanks to The Foundry and the approach to training, and commitment to a healthy lifestyle I easily tackled the Berlin Wall, Electroshock Therapy and even Everest. The Tough Mudder wasn’t so tough after all. And THAT IS WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT AT THE FOUNDRY. Give it a try, you will thank yourself for it.

I have been going to The Foundry for about 7 months now. I absolutely love going to this gym. Unlike when I went to other gyms and would skip workouts because of various excuses (tired, hungry, etc), I look forward to making it to the gym every day.
— The workouts are amazing. The coaches are great about varying the workouts day–
to-​day so that you get a complete workout every week. This workout will challenge
you physically in every single way. Think you’re strong or have great endurance?
I used to too, until doing burpees between powerclean sets. I feel like I am training
for a sport for the first time since college.
— The coaches are amazing. They know exactly what they are talking about, exactly
how to help you achieve your goals, and exactly how to help you recover. I have
a few old sports injuries that sometimes get inflamed and they have always been
able to help me. They are all very approchable and great at getting to know you.
— The other members (besides the coaches and amazing workouts) set this place
apart. Even if you could figure out how to do these workouts on your own and
motivate yourself without these great coaches, you would still miss the amazing
environment that comes with membership. All of the other members are great.
They want to get to know you and help you get through your workout and
motivate you to always be better. And if you join, GO TO THE SOCIAL EVENTS!
They are a great way to get to know people.
TL;DR join this gym. Workouts will always challenge you, coaches will always motivate you, and the members will push you.

I’m updating my review now that I’ve been here for 6+ months. My last review, though glowing, wasn’t actually too informative. Plus, I can add it to my Unilocal 100 challenge! Win-​win.
So here goes. Is it weird to love your gym? Not if it’s a «box» as we refer to it in crossfit. And no, I’m not a meat-​head gym-​rat. Far from it. Why is this place so awesome? Let me name the ways:
–Varied programming from olympic lifting, to gymnastics, to kettle bells, to rowing, etc., etc. etc.
–Coaches who know what they’re doing and are always happy to help you work on a skill.
–Constantly adding new programming options and responding quickly to feedback from their members. They’ve added a MetCon (Metabolic Conditioning) class to help build endurance, and most recently Yoga to help with recovery.
–Members who are friendly, social, and welcoming to people of all fitness levels.
And I do mean ALL fitness levels. Don’t be intimidated if you’re a beginner. I’ve been here awhile and I still «scale» most of the workouts down to what’s manageable for me.
Don’t worry if you’ve never lifted or if you don’t think you can do some of the skills. Everyone starts somewhere and the coaches here will work with you to make sure you’re getting the most out of every workout.
Drop in on one of the weekly Intro to Crossfit classes and don’t look back. You won’t regret it. DO IT!

I just re-​read my original review and really laughed. Now that I’ve been at this gym for 7 months, and know a little bit more about it, I feel the need to include two amendments to my original review :
1. The music IS diverse – I’m not sure if they changed it based on feedback or if they were just on a pop music kick during the summer (they use Pandora and there are several different stations that circulate), but I would say that there is generally a nice variety .
2. I was completely wrong when I said the instructors seemed out of touch with what beginners are comfortable with. I now know that they are completely aware of what beginners are comfortable with and KNOWINGLY push you past that point. I hate this, and I love to hate this, but it’s good for me.
Yes, yes, It’s very expensive but, it’s worth it: Since starting, I’ve lost 20lbs; for the first time, probably since high school, I have a hard stomach, and for the first time EVER I have hard thighs. and I half ass (well… ¾ ass) all of the workouts (unless it’s a team workout; in those instances I go ham). Did I mention that I am now stronger than I ever imagined I would be? Also, If you join – definitely do the nutrition plan that the recommend – at least try it (there’s no reason not to, it’s free and delicious), especially if you have an o blood type.
My opinion has not changed about the dogs.

I visited The Foundry on a trip to Chicago visiting my best friend and absolutely loved it. I do crossfit about once a week in LA (in addition to yoga, running, spin and other things), so was excited to check out a Chitown box. I took 2 classes over the weekend with my friend while I was there and found both coaches to be great — really nice direction and very helpful and informative. The owner Justin is outstanding; he spends a lot of time talking with the new customers and there is an amazing community or «family» vibe here among all the crossfitters. He also recently implemented a paleo meal plan which I had never seen before at other gyms!
Also, the gym itself is amazing… Spacious, clean locker rooms (I think the women’s locker room had at least 3 showers if I recall). There is an area with couches and TV’s where people were hanging out after class, and the layout of the gym floor itself is not cramped as some other gyms I’ve been to have been. Highly recommend this gym and will totally visit again on my next trip to the Chi!