Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Grand Valley State University Adds Esports Center

  • By Matt Jones
  • 01/12/23

Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Mich., recently debuted the newest addition to its campus, the Laker Esports Center. The center features Extron technology and features 25 gaming stations, a coaching station, and two wall-mounted displays, according to a news release. The stations are arranged in pods allowing individual or team play, and multiple pods can participate in group play at the same time.

An AV switching system allows coaches and spectators to watch and hear the game itself, as well as player communication via headphones with integrated microphones. Two 75” displays—one in the center of the room and one in the adjoining dining hall—can show any combination of gameplay, player stats, commentary, or background data, the news release reports.

“After attending Extron webinars and studying their Esports Design Guide and other reference materials, I felt confident that we could design our esports center in house,” said John F. Klein, GVSU’s Associate Director and Program Manager of Information Technology. “With a little help from Extron engineers, we did.”

The news release reports that the school’s IT team designed the system with “an Extron DTP CrossPoint 4K seamless presentation matrix switcher, a ShareLink Pro wireless collaboration gateway, an SMP 351 streaming media processor, and pendent speakers.” The main display uses an MGP 641 multi-window processor to allow up to four windows at a time. DTP HD 330 distribution amplifiers send video signals to displays in the dining hall, while TouchLink Pro panels allow control from various points in the Center.

“We standardized on Extron because they’re built well, have the features we want, and they last,” said Klein.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Missouri K–12 District Cuts Ribbons on Two New Middle Schools

    Springfield Public Schools in Springfield, Mo., recently celebrated the completion of two new middle school facilities with ribbon-cutting ceremonies, according to a district news release. The district officially opened the new Pipkin Middle School and Reed Academy on Sept. 3, both of which were funded through the $220-million Proposition S bond program approved by voters in 2023.

  • University of Rochester to Break Ground on New Student Life Center

    The University of Rochester in Rochester, N.Y., recently began construction on a new Student Life building, according to a news release. The first floor will contain campus-wide gathering, program, and rehearsal space; the second floor will play home to the Greenbaum Center for Jewish Life.

  • TCU Marks Campus Expansion Milestone

    Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas, recently held a topping-out ceremony to mark progress on a major campus expansion effort including four new residential facilities and a five-story parking garage, according to a news release.

  • Q&A: How to Prevent Kitchen Grease Fires in Commercial Kitchens

    School cafeterias and university dining halls serve thousands of meals daily, relying on high-heat equipment like fryers, grills, and ovens. While these operations keep students fed, they also generate significant grease-laden vapors. Without proper controls, this grease becomes a silent fire threat. As a certified exhaust cleaning specialist and business coach who has helped hundreds of institutional facilities achieve NFPA 96 compliance, I emphasize that proactive grease management isn’t optional; it’s a core fire/life safety practice.