Purdue opens new esports gaming lounge
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Purdue University has officially opened the Alienware Purdue Gaming Lounge, the university’s new esports facility. The lounge, located inside the France A. Córdova Recreational Sports Center, is billed as one of the largest dedicated collegiate gaming facilities in the country.
The 2,000-square-foot facility is designed to provide a space for students to train and compete for esports, as well as casual gaming use for students, staff, faculty and visitors.
The lounge has 22 gaming desktops, three gaming laptops, a Nintendo Switch and a PlayStation 5. The venue will allow gamers to play popular titles such as League of Legends, Rocket League and Valorant, Purdue said.
“The esports ecosystem at Purdue is thriving, with thousands of students actively participating,” Mike Warren, senior director of recreation & wellness at Purdue, said in a news release. “Whether students are looking to get casually involved or compete at higher levels, we are excited to support gaming here at Purdue RecWell, showcasing the latest technology.”
The facility has been outfitted gaming equipment from Alienware. Purdue said it held a soft opening of the lounge during the summer semester to get feedback from students and make tweaks to the systems.
Vice Provost for Student Life Beth McCuskey said called the feedback process rewarding to witness.
“It validates Purdue’s investment in the space and our strategic partnership with Dell Technologies to embolden Boilermaker gamers—from novices to varsity-level players—to engage at the highest levels of esport competition,” McCuskey said. “These students are learning in environments that you wouldn’t find in any other type of setting like this. They’re strategizing. They’re communicating. They’re problem-solving. And they’re learning soft skills that will help them stand out in the job market.”
The venue also includes a broadcast studio for students to produce video content and stream esports matches to general audiences.
“This space is about more than gaming; it’s about developing social connections, finding a community and creating a sense of belonging,” Warren said. “We believe it will attract students to RecWell who may have never set one foot inside the facility. Once here, the students will see the entire intersection of diverse offerings for holistic well-being.”
You can find more about the Alienware Purdue Gaming Lounge by clicking here.