Montclair State University Debuts New VR Facility
Montclair State University in Montclair, N.J., recently announced the completion of a new virtual reality learning facility developed in partnership with Dreamscape Learn, according to a news release. The 2,450-square-foot lab space is inside the College of Communication and Media building and will serve students pursuing careers in digital media, virtual reality, and content creation.
The new Dreamscape Learn Lab features a 26-seat classroom and a free-roam pod where students can physically move through virtual environments. The technology combines 360-degree motion capture with haptic feedback, which uses physical sensations such as vibrations and movement to simulate touch. The facility is expected to serve students across academic disciplines and eventually offer programming to students of all majors, the news release reports.
Students will initially have access to Dreamscape Learn’s “Biology in the Alien Zoo” course, an immersive experience that places participants in a virtual ecosystem. Students work collaboratively to conduct fieldwork, gather and analyze data, and use scientific concepts to complete a series of missions. Montclair joins institutions including Arizona State University, Rowan University, and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, in using Dreamscape Learn technology.
The lab will also provide hands-on training for students interested in careers involving virtual reality technology and production. Students can develop skills in areas including storyboarding, design, coding, and operating virtual environments.
“The Dreamscape Learn Lab will offer practical, real-world skills development in virtual reality, a critical medium for the future,” said College of Communication and Media Director Keith Strudler.
The project received partial funding through the New Jersey Economic Development Authority’s New Jersey Film Works Grant Program, an initiative supporting growth in the state’s digital media industry. University documents indicate that construction on the facility began in October 2025.
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Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].