Our Story

Where Time Meets Transformation

How We Got Started

Founder

Marcus Chen, Founder & Head Coach

Look, I'll be straight with you - this place didn't start from some grand business plan. Back in 2019, I was grinding 60-hour weeks in corporate finance, watching my own fitness slip away while I helped clients manage their portfolios. The irony wasn't lost on me.

I'd hit the gym at weird hours - sometimes 5am, other times past 10pm - whatever I could squeeze in. Most programs out there? They expected you to train like a full-time athlete. That's when it clicked: what if we built everything around time efficiency without sacrificing results?

Started training a few colleagues in my building's gym. Word spread fast. Turns out there's a ton of driven people who want serious gains but only have 45 minutes to make it happen. We're not about fluff or Instagram-worthy workouts that look cool but don't deliver.

What We Actually Believe

Every session here's got a purpose. We're not just throwing weights around or doing random cardio. It's calculated, it's tested, and yeah - it's intense. But that's the whole point.

I spent years competing in Olympic lifting and studying exercise science, but honestly? My best education came from training real people with real schedules. The lawyer who's got 30 minutes before court. The parent juggling kids and career. The entrepreneur building something from scratch.

We track everything - your lifts, your conditioning times, your recovery metrics. Not because we're data nerds (okay, maybe a little), but because you can't improve what you don't measure. And improvement? That's what keeps people coming back.

The "Chronos" part of our name isn't just branding. Time's the one thing nobody's making more of. So we've engineered our entire approach around maximizing every minute you spend here. High-intensity intervals, compound movements, strategic programming that builds on itself.

Our community's grown way beyond what I imagined back in that apartment gym. But we've kept the same philosophy: respect people's time, deliver measurable results, and don't BS anyone about what it takes to get strong.

Our Journey

Spring 2019

The Apartment Gym Era

Started with 8 clients in a residential building gym. Had to book slots around condo board rules. Learned to make every rep count when you've only got 45 minutes before someone else needs the space.

Fall 2019

First Real Space

Leased a 1200 sq ft warehouse in East Van. Bare bones - concrete floors, basic racks, and a whole lot of iron. Client roster grew to 35. Still remember the smell of fresh rubber mats.

March 2020

The Pivot Year

Yeah, that timing. Shut down for months but kept the community alive with virtual coaching. Learned a ton about programming for limited equipment. Some clients got ridiculously strong with just kettlebells and creativity.

Summer 2021

Expansion & Coaching Team

Brought on three certified coaches who actually get the philosophy. Not just cert collectors - people who've lived the grind. Expanded to 2500 sq ft. Added Olympic lifting platforms and recovery zones.

Winter 2022

Launch of HIIT Programs

Formalized our metabolic conditioning system. 30-minute sessions that absolutely wreck you (in a good way). Started seeing some crazy body composition changes in our members.

Spring 2023

Move to West Broadway

Found this perfect spot - 4000 sq ft with natural light, proper ventilation, and enough space to really dial in our training zones. Added nutrition consultation services. Community hit 120 active members.

Fall 2024

Performance Lab Opens

Built out a dedicated recovery and mobility space. Contrast therapy, compression gear, and proper assessment tools. Started working with semi-pro athletes alongside our regular crew.

2025 & Beyond

What's Next

We're not chasing massive scale - that's not the point. Working on refining our coaching education program and maybe opening one more location. But only if we can maintain what makes this place different. Quality over quantity, always.

Ready to Start Your Journey?

Let's see if we're the right fit for your goals. No sales pitch, just an honest conversation.

Get In Touch