Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

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

  • Agricultural Sciences Complex

    Agricultural Sciences Complex

    Established in 1999, the Education Design Showcase is a vehicle for showing off innovative — yet practical — solutions in planning, design, architecture, and construction. The College of Western Idaho's Agricultural Sciences Complex has been recognized with an EDS 2026 Grand Prize award in the category of New Construction.

  • Indiana University Launches Capital Campus in D.C.

    Indiana University recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new IU Capital Campus in Washington, D.C., according to university news. The eight-story facility will provide a central hub for the university’s existing programs and business operations based in D.C., uniting them under one roof and providing the opportunity to expand.

  • Fargo, N.D., Starts Construction on Consolidated Elementary School

    Fargo Public Schools in Fargo, N.D., recently announced the beginning of construction on a new elementary school, according to a news release. The district partnered with ICON Architectural Group and Kraus-Anderson Construction on the new Horace Mann Elementary School.

  • Year-Round Schools Require Year-Round Indoor Air Quality Planning

    While many schools are out for the summer, year-round schools follow a more “balanced” schedule with shorter, more frequent breaks spaced throughout the school year. Even though this offers educational benefits, these facilities have less downtime for building maintenance. This can become an issue when facilities managers overlook the importance of routine HVAC maintenance and air duct cleaning services.