UPDATED NEWS
Get You Updated on Playground Equipment News.
When a Chile family entertainment center brand sought to transform a former retail space into the region's premier indoor destination, it turned to Liben. This case study explores the design and strategy behind a project that now delivers packed weekends, rave reviews, and a loyal following. Read the full breakdown.
1. The Client & The Challenge
1.1 The Client Profile
ClubKids is a new family entertainment venture launched by Chilean investors with hospitality and event management backgrounds. The group secured a prime 1,200㎡ ground-floor site in a Chillán shopping complex, positioned between a food court and a sports center with badminton courts and a fitness area. With a vision to create the city's first large-scale indoor playground for ages 1–15, the team aimed for a grand opening timed to the summer school holiday—a critical window for capturing family footfall.
1.2 The Strategic Dilemma
The operator faced a three-pronged challenge:
The Identity Gap: As a first-time FEC entrant, ClubKids lacked brand presence. The founders needed a play environment that entertained children while projecting a premium, trustworthy image to parents—distinct from Chillán's few outdated soft-play centers. Without a distinctive identity, the venue risked being seen as just "another play area."
The Spatial Puzzle: The 1,200㎡ footprint had to accommodate reception, party rooms, a café, and storage—beyond just play equipment—while maintaining seamless guest flow. Three access points (food court, sports center, mall concourse) complicated circulation, and a full-length glass wall demanded a show-stopping structure to draw in passersby. Ceiling heights varied from 8 meters in the main area to 6 meters along the perimeter, requiring careful transition planning to avoid visual disorientation or safety inconsistencies.
The Seasonal Deadline: With just four months from lease signing to the summer holiday peak, any delay would jeopardize first-year revenue. The client needed a turnkey solution delivered within an aggressive timeline—without compromising safety or design quality.
2. The Solution: Engineering a "Vertical Village"
Following design workshops, Liben's team proposed the "Space Adventure Park"—a multi-level ecosystem addressing the site's uneven ceiling heights. Space-themed Indoor Playground and Sky Rider were positioned in the 8-meter zone, delivering an immersive adventure experience. The design maximized play value per square meter while utilizing the 6-meter perimeter for complementary zones, ensuring a cohesive and visually striking attraction.
2.1 Spatial Strategy
After consulting the client and assessing the site, Liben divided the space into three zones. Past reception and a rainbow tunnel, the layout places three play areas on both sides, with café and party rooms at the end.
Zone 1 – Space Adventure (ages 3–15): A space castle over a ball pit, built against the wall with columns as the boundary. Three space-capsule slides at varying heights descend into the ball pit. A side sky rider platform features a circular track—like a planet's orbit—leading back to a lower platform.
Zone 2 – Trampoline Park with Sky Rider (ages 3–60): The client selected favorites from 80 game options: a spinner, free-jump area, and basketball. Liben added an interactive trampoline system, professional trampolines, paddle games, and a spider wall. An adventure-zone slide track passes overhead, creating perfect connectivity.
Zone 3 – Toddler Soft Play (ages 0–3): A colorful enclosed area beside the trampoline zone, featuring soft equipment, a ball pool, toddler cars, bounce balls, and wall puzzles—giving little ones a safe, independent world away from older children.
2.2 Material & Manufacturing Specifications
| Component | Material Specification | Why This Matters |
| Main Structural Posts | Galvanized steel pipes | Acc. to national standard, for indoor leisure applications |
| Connectors & Fasteners | Cast steel | Anti-rust, high strength |
| Panels & Decks | PVC leather, special plywood, EPE | Acc. to EN standard |
| Netting | Nylon | Mesh size less than 1cm to prevent children from climbing |
| Soft Play Upholstery | PVC leather, PU foam core | Antimicrobial treated |
2.3 Safety Engineering: The Entrapment Protocol
Recognizing that safety is paramount for any indoor play facility, Liben subjected the entire "Space Adventure Park" to comprehensive testing by TÜV Rheinland, a leading global certification body. Testing was conducted to EN 1176-1:2017 A1:2023 (general requirements), EN 1176-3:2017 (slides), and EN 1176-10:2023 (fully enclosed equipment). Designed for children aged 3–14, the structure passed rigorous structural integrity verification with total test loads of 29,270N—well exceeding standard demands. Comprehensive entrapment testing covered clothing/hair, fingers, foot/leg, and whole-body risks—all passed with no findings. Slide geometry was validated with a maximum declination of 45.6° and run-out section height of 345mm. The maximum free height of fall was measured at just 450mm, well below the critical fall height of the installed impact-attenuating surfacing (1.1m tested to EN 1177). All connections were secured against unauthorized loosening, and material safety was confirmed through separate chemical testing (REACH compliance). The result: a clean Pass verdict across all applicable clauses—delivering complete technical documentation and peace of mind to ClubKids and its insurer.
3. Project Execution: From Factory Floor to Grand Opening
3.1 Manufacturing & Quality Control
The entire order's production cycle is 4 weeks. The customer receives weekly progress reports with photos, including:
- Photos of various equipment in production
- Photos of some equipment being tested and inspection
- Videos confirming and testing the voltage of electrical equipment plugs
- Final assembly and trial operation of the main equipment conducted in Liben's 50,000㎡ factory, recorded in 4K video for use by the customer's insurance company.
3.2 Logistics & Customs
The order filled three 40-foot high cube containers and one 20-foot small container. All packaging met export standards, with fragile items packed in wooden crates made of export-grade materials. The shipping documentation package included a detailed list of components in each container, highlighting products that could be used directly without on-site installation—a deliberate arrangement that increased on-site unpacking and sorting speed by approximately 60%.
3.3 Installation & Handover
Due to the tight opening schedule and long South American visa processing, the client used a hybrid model: local on-site installation with remote online guidance from Liben Group. Liben prepared a nearly 100-page illustrated English manual with video tutorials, guiding the local team step by step. After two months, the project was successfully delivered to high acclaim. Liben also provided ongoing support, including maintenance manuals, safety guidelines, and emergency response handbooks, ensuring a seamless and worry-free opening.
4. The Results: A 24-Month Commercial Record
The client agreed to share anonymized operational data for the period Feb. 2024 to December 2025.
4.1 Visitor Metrics
| KPI | Pre-opening | 6 Months Actual | 2 Years Actual | Notes |
| Weekend Occupancy Rate | 80% | 90% | 94% | Paid entries-3 hours session capacity |
| Average Dwell Time | 2 hrs | 2.8 hrs | 3.3 hrs | Directly correlates with cafe spend |
| Google Rating | 4.2 stars | 4.7 stars | 4.8 stars | 500 reviews; kywords: clean, safe, attentive |
| Monthly Repeat Visit Rate | 25% | 33% | 40% | Members visiting above 1 per month |
4.2 Financial Performance
Cross-Selling: Every extra 20 mins of dwell time generated $6.50 in retail/F&B spend per guest. The play structure led zone revenue at $320/m²—28% above average.
Space Efficiency: Facility‑wide revenue averaged $185/m²/month, peaking at $240/m²; party zone topped at $410/m².
ROI: Capital payback achieved in Month 13—five months ahead of plan—driven by 22% higher occupancy and a 35% attach rate for add‑ons. Year‑3 revenue growth remains at 31% YoY.
4.3 Safety & Maintenance Record
– Incidents: No reportable incidents occurred over the 12-month period (RIDDOR 2013).
– Unplanned Maintenance: 2 cases occurred. First: a trampoline surface torn by a player carrying a sharp object (policy enforcement needed against bringing scissors/knives onboard). Second: interactive trampoline system failed to power on, caused by staff not following the instruction manual correctly.
– Planned Maintenance: Purchase extra trampoline socks and disposable wristbands; replace ball pit balls biennially.
5. Strategic Takeaways
Reflecting on the project, three factors emerge as critical to its success:
5.1 Compliance as Competitive Edge: Pre‑shipment third‑party safety audits turned regulatory compliance into a market differentiator. The operator paid a premium for insurer‑endorsed equipment.
5.2 Zone‑Based Packaging: Redesigning packing lists around play zones rather than production batches cut unpacking time by over 60%. Now standardized for all export projects.
5.3 Data‑Driven Design: 24 months of operations data are shaping the client’s second venue. Footfall sensors revealed underutilized morning slots, prompting new parent‑infant sessions; high‑traffic zones are being widened with extra seating.
6. Customer Feedback and Future Outlook
6.1 What Our Customers Say
"The park opened ahead of schedule with excellent results — all within just 1.5 weeks of installation. The remote guidance and illustrated manuals made it possible. We couldn't have achieved this without Liben's responsive support and meticulous planning."
— Pedro, Managing Director
6.2 Next Project is in the Way
Buoyed by the strong performance and smooth installation at Club Kids Chillán, the client has initiated early discussions for a second venue, targeting a Q4 2027 opening. The new 2,800㎡ site will incorporate lessons learned—with upgraded interactive elements and enhanced flow design—once again entrusting Liben with full equipment supply and remote installation oversight. More details to follow as planning progresses.
