What to know
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The wrench is a key item required to open the Cold Storage door because the original handwheel snaps off when you try to turn it.
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You pick up the wrench from the Custodian’s Office in the West Wing of the Rhodes Hill Care Center.
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You must have the Level 1 Security ID Wristband to reach the Custodian’s Office and therefore the wrench.
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Once you have the wrench, you return to the Cold Storage door and use the wrench on the hexagonal protrusion to force it open.
To open the Cold Storage door in Resident Evil Requiem, you first need the wrench and then use it on the broken wheel‑style handle. Here’s how to go about it.
| Aspect | What you need / where to go |
|---|---|
| Item required | Wrench |
| Wrench location | Custodian’s Office desk area, near the typewriter and safe point in the West Wing |
| Access requirement | Level 1 Security ID Wristband and West Wing Level 1 security door |
| Cold Storage door type | Large metal door with broken handwheel, leaving a hexagonal socket in the center |
| How to unlock Cold Storage | Use the wrench as a socket‑style tool on the hexagonal protrusion and rotate it |
How to get to the Wrench – Location
The wrench spawns inside the Custodian’s Office, which lies in the western section of the Rhodes Hill Care Center.
First, you must have the Level 1 Security ID Wristband.
This lets you unlock the security gate past the kitchen and into the southern‑west portion of the clinic.
From there you head down the corridor and enter the Custodian’s Office, identifiable by its ornate door and interior decor.
Inside, the wrench sits on or very near the desk on the left side, close to the typewriter.
The room also doubles as a safe point, so you can store excess items and reload your guns before heading back with the wrench.
How to reach the Cold Storage door
After grabbing the wrench, stay in the West Wing and work your way toward the dining‑room area.
The Cold Storage door is located on the ground floor, down a hallway past the dining room.
When you first approach it, the handwheel on the door will snap off in your hand instead of turning, leaving only a hexagonal protrusion in the center.
This is the visual cue that you must use the wrench instead of trying to turn the handle manually.
The hallways leading to Cold Storage are usually guarded by shuffling zombies, so keep weapon ready and move carefully.
How to use the wrench to enter Cold Storage
Step 1
Open your inventory and equip the wrench so it is selected as your active item.
Step 2
Face the Cold Storage door and interact with the center area where the hexagonal protrusion is now exposed.
Step 3
When the prompt appears, use the wrench on the protrusion; the game will treat it like a socket‑style tool that fits over the hexagon.
Step 4
Rotate the wrench according to the on‑screen direction or prompt, effectively turning the internal mechanism instead of the broken handwheel.
Step 5
Once the mechanism is fully turned, the heavy door will unlock with a loud clunk and swing partly open.
Step 6
Push the door the rest of the way and proceed inside Cold Storage, where you can claim the Artificial Heart and other nearby interactables.
Within Cold Storage you also set up progression for the organ‑box puzzle and the Level 2 ID Wristband, so it is worth checking every shelf and container before exiting.
What you gain from entering Cold Storage
| Item or progress | Outcome in the game |
|---|---|
| Artificial Heart | One of the key artificial organs needed for the organ‑transport box puzzle line |
| Access to nearby rooms | Opens the path toward the organ box and eventually the Level 2 ID Wristband |
| Extra consumables | Various ammo, herbs, or crafting items commonly hidden in the Cold Storage area |
The Cold Storage room is not just a puzzle‑gate; it directly ties into the organ‑revival and wristband‑unlock chain that lets you access the Isolation Ward and other higher‑security areas. Getting the wrench and using it correctly here is the first concrete step in reviving the organless corpse and unlocking level‑two‑access doors, so the location becomes a critical checkpoint in the Care Center portion of the campaign.
