New Jersey K–12 District, PureTek Partner to Create Three New Education Spaces

Audiovisual solutions company PureTek Group recently partnered with Plainfield Public Schools in Plainfield, N.J., to create three new educational spaces for the district, according to a news release. The project involves upgrading the existing Plainfield High School auditorium into a performing arts center, a mini-theater into a blackbox theater, and two adjacent unused classrooms into an Esports Arena. The renovations will create new STEAM and CTE learning opportunities across the district.

The Esports Arena contains 20 gaming stations for players, as well as additional stations for broadcast operators, shoutcasters, and a replay operator. Spectators can watch from the school’s auditorium, and the blackbox theater also serves as a greenroom for teams not currently playing. Technology highlights include immersive lighting via criss-crossing, ceiling-mounted strips; integration with the performing arts center and blackbox theater; and broadcasting capabilities.

The Performing Arts Center (PAC) has a capacity for 1,600 and will play home to student performances. In addition to Esports Tournaments, it will also be used for rentals and community support programs. Technology highlights include the unRAVL Controls, which offer streamlined and intuitive control for rigging, AV, and lighting systems from a single touch panel. The PAC also has a large projection screen with a 30,000-lumen 4K laser projector, according to a project fact sheet.

The Blackbox Theater has a 120-seat capacity and will be used for arts education and performance spaces. It can also serve as the esports green room, as a professional education space, and a college-style lecture hall to prepare older students for university settings. The Blackbox Theater also uses the unRAVL System for rigging, audio, visual, and lighting solutions, the fact sheet reports.

About the Author

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

Featured

  • University of Oklahoma Announces New Campus Master Plan

    The University of Oklahoma in Norman, Okla., recently announced that it will soon launch a new, comprehensive Campus Master Plan to guide the campus’ physical development during the next decade, according to a news release.

  • University of Pittsburgh to Build New Residence Hall

    The Board of Trustees from the University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, Penn., recently approved the construction of a new residence hall for first-year students, according to university news.

  • Northeastern University Breaks Ground on New Housing Community

    Northeastern University recently announced the groundbreaking of a new student housing community on its campus in Boston, Mass., according to a news release. The university is partnering with American Campus Communities (ACC) for development of the project, which will have the capacity for 1,200 students and has a scheduled completion date of fall 2028.

  • Cal Poly Humboldt Starts Construction on Healthcare Education Hub

    California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt in Arcata, Calif., recently announced that work has begun on a renovation project that will turn the Stewart Building into a new Healthcare Education Hub, according to a news release. The university is partnering with Sundt Construction Inc. for construction services.