Let's start at the beginning, what is Esports?
Esports can be best summed up as competitive multiplayer video games and has become one of the most popular forms of entertainment in the last 15 years. At colleges and universities across North America, there is an exponential growth of activity in esports and video game communities. As schools continue to venture into esports, they are finding that they currently do not have the proper space to accommodate their programs.
For schools to understand what kind of space they will need to provide to their students they first need to understand what level of involvement in esports they want to have. Are spaces going to be used to house competitive varsity esports programs, or is the focus going to be the wider student population, or could it be a combination of the two?
The answer to that question is going to be school-dependent. Based on how involved or in-depth a school is planning on being involved in developing a program, will determine the type of space they should aim to design. It is important for schools to find what is important for them, whether it is a focus on student interaction and social engagement or a focus on becoming a powerhouse in competitive esports. When that decision is made it will begin to influence what facility type or design should be pursued.
These facilities come in all shapes, sizes, and styles and can range from the conversion of existing spaces into gaming lounges with rows of PCs for all students to use, to the more formal practice facilities that the varsity athletes have unfettered access to. Schools implementing these types of programs around the country have approached their facilities in different ways. It is important for a school to understand the role that this type of facility will play and how it aligns with what goals the school has for its involvement. There are three main facility types that can be effectively implemented at the collegiate level;
PC Lounge
Training Facility
Competitive Venue
Each facility type brings specifics that make them unique and provide a different experience for the students and staff that use these spaces. Through this series, we look to shed light on these facility types in order for schools to understand what facility makes the most sense for them given their situation.
The next post in the series will focus on the first of the three types, the PC Lounge. Check out our social media pages on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn to keep up to date with everything going on at Moake Park!
