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

  • Recent University of Pennsylvania Projects Receive LEED Certifications

    The University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Penn., recently announced that three of its recent construction projects have earned LEED certifications, according to university news. The Vagelos Laboratory for Energy Science and Technology (VLEST) received a LEED Platinum certification, Amy Gutmann Hall a LEED Gold, and the OTT Center for Track and Field a LEED silver.

  • Construction Begins on East Austin CTE-Focused High School

    The Del Valle Independent School District recently announced that construction has begun on a new CTE-focused high school in Austin, Texas, according to a news release. Del Valle High School will measure in at 473,338 square feet and have the capacity for 2,400 students.

  • University of Kansas Opens $400M Football Stadium Reconstruction

    The University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kan., recently announced that the $400-million reconstruction of David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium is complete in time for the 2025 football season, according to a news release. The university partnered with Turner Construction Company on the project.

  • Armstrong World Industries Acquires Geometrik

    Armstrong World Industries, designer and manufacturer of interior and exterior architectural applications like ceilings, walls, and metal solutions, recently announced its acquisition of Canada-based Geometrik, according to a news release. The British Columbian Geometrik specializes in designing and manufacturing wood acoustical and wall systems.

Digital Edition