St. Bonaventure University (SBU) launched a competitive eSports team to boost enrollment and professional development. What began in an existing lounge quickly gained momentum, prompting administrators to envision a purpose-built arena that unifies training, league play, live broadcasts and spectator engagement under one roof.
Client
St. Bonaventure University
Location
St. Bonaventure, New York
Key Contact
Mike Mistriner
Photographer
Tim Wilkes Photography
Completed
2025
Services
Architecture, Interior Design, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering
As part of an ongoing master planning effort and longstanding partnership, our Higher Education Practice team was engaged to help bring this vision to life. Early research identified a promising, underutilized space within the Reilly Center – SBU’s student life hub and home to a major athletics venue – which could easily be converted into a dedicated eSports destination. Conceptual design was shaped through robust visioning sessions with the coach, facilities stakeholders and students, ensuring the layout reflected team needs, operational realities and the “wish list” moments that drive student belonging.
The resulting program is organized into three complementary zones: practice, competition and hangout. The practice area functions like an elevated computer lab, with fully equipped gaming stations and high-performance technology to drive skill development and focused training. Nearby, a casual lounge – complete with beanbag seating and flexible furnishings – encourages informal play, club activity and community building beyond the varsity roster.
Serving as the heart of the arena, the competitive space delivers the high-impact environment the program needed. A dedicated player bench anchors the room with dramatic LED lighting, cohesive wall branding and acoustic treatments that augment comfort while upholding concentration during matches. Wrapping the space, a dynamic wall display, designed to create visual movement along the perimeter, can shift graphics, reinforce school spirit and even put gameplay on the wall, transforming each event into a spectator-friendly experience.
Built through close coordination with the coach and SBU’s facilities team, the arena balances evolving technology demands with a durable, future-ready design. The finished space gives the University a flexible platform for tournaments and broadcast, all while signaling a bold commitment to student experience and the growing role of eSports in campus life.
