SWINGERS BACK BAY
Boston, United States
Swingers Back Bay
Client: Institute of Competitive Socialising
Size: 1,950 sq m / 21,000 sq ft
Status: Complete
Boston, United States
The brief was to introduce Swingers’ internationally celebrated competitive socialising concept to Boston’s Back Bay, creating an immersive leisure destination tailored to an urban adult audience. The two-level venue was designed to combine crazy golf, arcade gaming, food, and premium cocktails within a cohesive environment that encourages movement, sociability, and extended dwell time across multiple entertainment and hospitality experiences.
The brief called for a space that captures the nostalgic charm and theatricality that’s synonymous with the Swingers brand, while introducing an energy and atmosphere that feels distinctly Boston.
Working closely with the Institute of Competitive Socialising, Zachary Pulman Design Studio developed the interior concept and spatial planning to bring the Swingers experience to Boston, while responding to the character of the Back Bay neighbourhood.
The design approach focused on creating a highly engaging social environment while ensuring efficient circulation, strong visibility between attractions and bars, and a layout that supports both high guest capacity and operational efficiency.
Concept Design Details
The Brief
Drawing inspiration from the atmosphere of a 1920s English country club, the design layers nostalgia with contemporary urban edge. Two nine-hole crazy golf courses weave through the venue, deliberately integrated with cocktail bars and lounge areas to create a seamless relationship between play, socialising and hospitality.
Spatial planning prioritises circulation and visibility, allowing guests to move effortlessly between the golf courses, Carnival, a Belle Époque-inspired retro arcade, and dining spaces without disrupting the flow of the experience. This approach encourages exploration throughout the venue, maintains clear sightlines and a strong sense of theatre, and allows the venue to operate efficiently during peak periods.
Moody lighting, fairground detailing and bold material contrasts establish a high-energy yet intimate atmosphere. Back Bay views anchor the upper level, while layered textures and decorative elements evoke a members’ club reimagined for contemporary leisure.
Food and beverage are embedded within the design rather than treated as secondary elements. In partnership with Emmy Squared Pizza, dining is seamlessly integrated into the gameplay environment, reinforcing the venue’s principle that entertainment and hospitality should operate as a unified, cohesive experience.
The result is a multi-layered social destination where play, food, drink and atmosphere work together to maximise guest engagement, increase dwell time and support strong commercial performance.
