Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

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

  • By Matt Jones
  • 07/10/24

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

  • DFW-Area District Opens New Replacement Middle School

    The Eagle Mountain-Saginaw Independent School District near Fort Worth, Texas, recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new replacement middle school campus, according to a news release. The new facility for Wayside Middle School, originally established in 1964, was built on the site of the former district administration building and funded through Bond Proposition A in 2023.

  • South Carolina District Starts Construction on $50M Middle School Renovation

    The Aiken County Public School District in North Augusta, S.C., recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for the $50-million renovation and expansion of North Augusta Middle School, according to a news release. The project’s funding comes from the 2024 renewal of a one-cent sales tax approved by local voters.

  • Stanford Completes Construction on Graduate School of Education Facility

    Stanford University in Stanford, Calif., recently announced the end of construction on a new home for its Graduate School of Education, according to a news release. The university partnered with McCarthy Building Companies on the 160,000-square-foot project, which involved two major renovations and one new construction effort.

  • Pitzer College

    Designing for Change in Higher Ed Learning Environments

    Higher education will continue to evolve, and learning environments must evolve with it. By prioritizing adaptable infrastructure, thoughtful reuse, strong energy performance, and wellness-centered design, campuses can create spaces that support learning today while remaining flexible for the future.