Comet’s LANding Esports Facility University of Texas at Dallas
One of the largest academic esports facilities in the country, Comets LANding expands opportunities for competitive and recreational gaming with this versatile new addition to the student union.
客户
The University of Texas at Dallas
位置
Dallas, Texas
市场/服务
Architecture, Athletics, Recreation, & Wellness, Interiors, Landscape Architecture, Lighting Design, MEP Engineering, Student Life
大小
17,000 GSF
Building on the success of its competitive electronic sports (“esports”) team and the growing popularity of video gaming among its students, UT Dallas desired to bring together its gaming community by creating a destination on campus that could provide competitive, recreational and social gaming opportunities. By locating the new Esports facility as an addition to the student union, adjacent to the new pedestrian mall, the university placed gaming at the heart of campus.
Unrivaled as a collegiate esports center, Comets LANding provides a network of gaming environments to serve student gamers of all skill levels, along with a multi-purpose gaming arena and production studio to host and broadcast esports competitions. While the project is a modest addition to a large student union complex, it establishes major connections between the existing union, an adjacent pedestrian mall, and campus green space. The prominent location reflects the significance of the gaming culture at UT Dallas and is intended to become a popular campus hub that expands and unites its student gaming community.
Comets LANding features numerous zones to support a variety of gaming experiences, including 2- to 4-person recreational gaming lounges, more than 100 PC gaming stations, a competitive gaming arena with a spectator viewing area, and a production studio for live streaming and digital content creation. Flexibility is key to Comets LANding. The arena is designed to host gaming competitions and serves as a general events venue. The production studio is outfitted for live broadcasting of competitions and as a learning lab for future broadcasting courses.
People who see Comets LANding for the first time consistently remark about the intentionality behind the design, and it is because SmithGroup committed to the work of leaving no stone unturned to create the absolute best collegiate gaming experience we possibly could give to our students. While the facility is absolutely beautiful, I believe what sets this design apart is that SmithGroup created such a flexible, mixed-use space that there are very few limits to how we can reach our campus community and the greater DFW area.
Dr. Dan Goodwin
Director of Student Union and Student Union Programs, The University of Texas at Dallas
With the Comets LANding expansion, the team also seized on the opportunity to improve the pedestrian flow and wayfinding of the sprawling student union. Originally built in 1979 to face the formal campus mall to the east, subsequent expansions left the union isolated from the busy pedestrian mall to the north and a popular lawn area on its northwest corner. This design enhances what previously was a seldom used north entrance into the union with engaging branded graphics for Comets LANding and a new food/beverage outlet. Students now flow into and through the union more freely, passing gaming activities on full display. A new porch and patio activates the lawn area, a lively venue that can broadcast gaming competitions and host tailgate parties, movie nights and other events.
Comets LANding places UT Dallas at the forefront of esports and gaming, celebrating its role in student life and demonstrating its competitive, recreational and academic value.