Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

PA District Opens Middle School eSports Arena

Duquesne City School District in Pennsylvania has formally opened an eSports arena on its K–8 campus in the Pittsburgh area. The space, designed for use by middle schoolers, will also double as a computer science/makerspace lab.

According to the school, the arena, previously a school board meeting room, will be available to students who sign up for an elective computer science course, as well as an after school gaming club.

The space houses several Xbox gaming systems, displays, gaming chairs and other gear. Images can be seen in a tweet from the district below.

According to local reporting, funding for the arena "came from Robert Morris University, the Penn State Readiness Institute and the Heinz Endowments, as well as from the district’s federal COVID-19 relief funding."

The school, like so many in the Pittsburgh area, is heavily geared toward STEM and STEAM education. Pittsburgh has one of the highest densities of makerspaces and fablabs in the nation. (See partial map of makerspaces below. A partial list of Pittsburgh-area fablabs can be found here.)

Duquesne itself, aside from the new eSports arena/computer science lab, has five distinct makerspaces, is part of the First Lego League, and offers a STEM/STEAM-focused curriculum for its students.

About the Author

David Nagel is the former editorial director of 1105 Media's Education Group and editor-in-chief of THE Journal, STEAM Universe, and Spaces4Learning. A 30-year publishing veteran, Nagel has led or contributed to dozens of technology, art, marketing, media, and business publications.

He can be reached at [email protected]. You can also connect with him on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidrnagel/ .


Featured

  • University of Kentucky Receives $150M Gift Toward New Arts District

    The University of Kentucky’s Board of Trustees recently received a $150-million gift from The Bill Gatton Foundation, according to a university news release, to build a new arts district on the campus in Lexington, Ky. The new district will feature a new College of Fine Arts building and a multi-hundred-seat theater, among other amenities.

  • Little Grand Market

    Designing for Belonging: Why Student Wellness Starts with Space

    From walkable site planning to flexible interiors, intentional design choices play a critical role in how students experience comfort, connection, and community.

  • Indiana Wesleyan University Schedules Grand Opening for New Welcome Center

    Indiana Wesleyan University recently announced that it will soon open a new Welcome Center on its campus in Marion, Ind., according to a news release. The facility will serve as the home base for prospective students and their families to learn more about the university and student life there. A ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for February 19.

  • LSU Breaks Ground on $200M Residential Project

    Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, La., recently broke ground on a new residential complex, according to university news. The South Quad residential project will consist of two buildings and add a total of 1,266 beds for freshmen students. The development comes with a price tag of $200 million, and it’s scheduled to open to students in fall 2027.