Butler University’s Esports Park has garnered significant recognition after being featured in the prestigious American School & University Magazine as a winner of an Outstanding Design Award in the Community Centers and Joint-Use category. The university’s innovative facility has not only set new standards in esports infrastructure but has also demonstrated its commitment to nurturing a thriving gaming community on campus.
HEAPY led the engineering and technology design for the 7,360 square-foot high-performance space, working alongside Butler University and architect, Populous.
A Cutting-Edge Facility
The Esports Park at Butler University is a state-of-the-art facility that serves as a hub for competitive gaming and esports activities. The design of the park emphasizes functionality, aesthetics, and the creation of a collaborative environment for students, faculty, and the wider community. The facility boasts top-tier performance equipment, dedicated gaming spaces, and advanced technology to support high-level esports competitions.
Innovation
The Butler University Esports Park has the capability to host an esports competition with entire broadcasting capabilities and space for a viewing audience. The technology design included new data network, A/V systems, central processing server, and security systems, including access control and video surveillance. The central server connects to each computer via the cloud for centralized processing, eliminating the need for high-performance computers at each station. On the competition floor, careful consideration was given to ensure that every participant has the exact same experience in terms of performance and connectivity (e.g., cable length), as required by current esports design and competition standards.
HEAPY coordinated lighting controls with the A/V technology to create a highly interactive space. We served as the “go between” for the client and primary A/V vendor, ensuring all equipment and supplies met the project requirements, and were delivered on time and seamlessly integrated into the construction schedule. All MEP systems meet or exceed the university’s standards for energy efficiency and reliability.
Collaboration
The aggressive schedule required expedient performance. HEAPY served as the local point of contact to provide close collaboration with vendors, team members, and client representatives. The HEAPY team worked cross-functionally with a diverse team, spread across a large geographic area, which allowed the university to host the grand opening and inaugural competition on schedule.
We’re grateful for the excellent team collaboration with the architect, Populous, as well as Butler University.
Read about Butler University’s Esports Park Outstanding Design Award in the American School & University Magazine.
