Our team was brought on board to provide expert Site Management and a comprehensive Joinery Installation Package for the Escape Hunt at Castle Quarter, Norwich. In this role, we acted as the bridge between the client’s vision and the physical reality, overseeing the day-to-day site operations on site and ensuring the specialized game environments were installed to a flawless standard.
Project Overview
Our remit for this project was two-fold: we provided dedicated Site Management to coordinate the various trades on the ground, while our joinery team took the lead on the intricate installation of the pre-manufactured themed furniture and game components. Working within the busy Castle Quarter leisure complex, we ensured that the technical requirements of a modern escape room were met with absolute precision.
Key Contributions & Scope
We were responsible for the flow of the site and the high-spec finish of the interior, including:
- Site Management & Trade Coordination: We managed the daily site schedule, coordinating with electrical and MEP teams to ensure that the complex power and data requirements for the games were ready for our joinery installation.
- Specialist Game Room Installation: Our joiners expertly installed the themed furniture and interactive elements for the venue’s signature games, including:
- Journey to Atlantis: Securely fitting “underwater” architectural features and heavy-set structural furniture designed for high-volume customer use.
- Aladdin: Installing ornate, Middle Eastern-inspired cabinetry, bazaar-style stalls, and “magical” hidden compartments.
- Blackbeard’s Treasure: Assembly and installation of “shipwreck” themed joinery, including rustic timber hatches and hidden chests.
- Alice in Puzzleland & Beyond: Fitting whimsical, oversized furniture and distorted-perspective joinery that required millimetre-perfect alignment.
- Front-of-House & VIP Lounge: We installed the reception desk, ensuring all seams, LED channels, and service points were perfectly integrated for a premium customer arrival.
- Secret Doors & Technical Hardware: A core part of our package was the installation of “invisible” doors. We fitted heavy-duty pivot systems and magnetic strike plates into the themed furniture, ensuring secret exits were both seamlessly concealed and 100% reliable.
Challenges & Solutions
- Complex Integration: Installing pre-manufactured themed furniture requires a high level of skill to ensure it fits the site’s unique dimensions perfectly. Our joiners utilized “scribe and fit” techniques to ensure a “built-in” look for every component.
- Managing the “Tech-Joinery” Gap: Since escape rooms rely on electronic triggers, we managed the interface between the joinery and the sensors, ensuring all wiring was hidden within the furniture and that the moving parts operated without friction.
- Safety & Compliance: We ensured that all installed furniture and secret doors met strict fire-safety and emergency egress regulations, balancing the “locked-in” theme with essential safety standards.
The Result: A perfectly executed, high-immersion venue. By providing on-site leadership and technical joinery expertise, we ensured that the high-spec manufactured components were installed to the exact standards required by a global brand like Escape Hunt.