New Jersey High School Debuts Auditorium Renovation, Technical Upgrades

  • By Matt Jones
  • 11/20/24

Plainfield High School in Plainfield, N.J., recently completed a series of construction projects including an auditorium renovation, a new eSports gaming arena, and a black-box theater, according to a news release. The school partnered with PureTek Group to install the Pliant Technologies CrewCom professional wireless intercom system, providing full coverage and clear communication across all new spaces.

The auditorium and black box theater are on one side of the building and the eSports arena made up of two adjacent classrooms on the other. The intercom system’s coverage capabilities have provided major benefits in practice, according to the news release.

Plainfield High School Auditorium
Photo courtesy of Pliant Technologies

“The eSports arena has only enough space for gamers and coaches, so for tournaments, the auditorium serves as a viewing area for audiences,” said PureTek Group Co-Founder and President Dan Litvin. “To achieve a collaborative performance, communication is key, so reliable coverage from a distance is a necessity. With Pliant, production personnel at the school are able to communicate clearly from the eSports arena all the way to the backstage booth in the auditorium.”

The intercom system uses “one CrewCom 2+2 Control Unit (CCU), three CrewCom 900MHz Radio Transceivers (RTs), seven CrewCom 900MHz 2-Volume/2-Conference Radio Packs with seven SmartBoom PRO single-ear headsets,” and accessories like a drop-in radio pack, battery charger, and supply cords.

Plainfield High School Backstage Auditorium Booth
Photo courtesy of Pliant Technologies

The system’s ability to use multiple channels has also worked in the school’s favor. Booth operators, auditorium operators, the backstage area, and eSports broadcasting personnel can all communicate among each other on separate feeds to have single conversations, the news release reports.

“We now have cutting-edge technology, and we’re very excited that our students have the opportunity to be very hands-on in terms of learning the equipment,” said Jean Gordon, Plainfield Public Schools’ Chief of Instruction and Programs. “We are now offering our students a new skillset that they can take out into the world.”

About the Author

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

Featured

  • University of Southern Mississippi Starts Construction on Oyster Hatchery

    The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) recently announced that construction has begun on a new oyster hatchery at its Gulf Coast Research Laboratory (GCRL) Thad Cochran Marine Aquaculture Center (TCMAC) Cedar Point campus in Ocean Springs, Miss., according to a news release.

  • Case Study Highlights Texas District’s Campus Security Upgrades

    The Taft Independent School District near Corpus Christi, Texas, recently partnered with Intech Southwest Services to revamp its campus security technology system, according to a news release. Intech has released a case study on its website detailing the process that advanced the district’s technology by more than 20 years in less than three weeks.

  • Embry-Riddle Breaks Ground on New Office Building

    Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) in Daytona Beach, Fla., recently announced that construction has begun on a new office building for its campus Research Park, according to a news release. The university partnered with Hoar Construction on the 34,740-square-foot Center for Aerospace Technology II (CAT II), which will be used for research and lab purposes.

  • Creating Long-Term Sustainability on College Campuses Through Fair Student Housing

    The quality of student housing can have a significant impact on an individual’s college experience. Today’s higher education institutions face mounting challenges, including declining enrollment, low retention rates between the first and second years, and a rise in student mental health concerns. Thoughtfully designed living spaces can help address these issues by creating environments that promote both academic focus and personal well-being.

Digital Edition