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Think escape rooms are just weekend fun for thrill-seekers or puzzling adventures for families? Think again.
In Baton Rouge, these immersive experiences are being reimagined as powerful tools for learning, development—and yes, even leadership training.
In this episode of Business Report’s Bottom Line, we explore how both local institutions and major employers are leveraging escape rooms to boost performance and engagement. At Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University, or FranU, what looks like a typical medical simulation lab is actually the setting for a high-stakes, clue-filled learning experience. Here, future health care professionals in the Physicians Assistant Program are diagnosing “patients” using a combination of hands-on training and critical thinking—under pressure.
The result? Students walk away with sharper clinical instincts and stronger collaboration skills.
Meanwhile, just across town, 13th Gate Escape is attracting major corporate players like ExxonMobil, DOW, and Entergy. These companies aren’t coming for fun alone—they’re investing in team-building.
Organizers say that with intricate puzzles, time limits, and a need for constant communication, escape rooms offer a high-energy environment that challenges employees to problem-solve together, think creatively, and act fast.
