Esports are a powerful force in higher education today as colleges integrate competitive gaming into athletic programs and academics. In 2024, St. Louis Community College (STLCC) engaged FGM Architects to transform an underutilized space into a dynamic esports arena for its Archers team.
The Archers’ esports arena features three distinct activity zones. The first is the competitive gaming area, which features a long row of collaborative, partner-facing team stations. A wall-sized video screen enables players to be part of the action while ergonomic furniture enhances their comfort and mobility. A second zone centers around a curved sofa where players practice and socialize. The third zone provides standing height tables where players can strategize during competitions.
Esports require an immersive environment. Prior to its transformation, this high-ceiling room was filled with daylight from an expansive curtain wall. Rather than hiding the glass, the space was reimagined into a wall-sized graphic filled with symbols of the mapping process that esports games feature. The graphic filters daylight through the seemingly opaque surface, achieving a glowing effect that mimics the light quality of a high-tech video monitor. Acoustic panels, ceiling tiles and baffles optimize sound while dimmable lighting helps players focus.
