Editor’s Note: Here, Commercial Integrator’s editors highlight one of our 2025 Integration Award-winning projects. Horizon AVL / Esports Integration’s work for The Schine Esports and Gaming Center earned top honors in the Best Esports Project category. Read on to learn why our judges deemed this project the most impressive esports project of the past year!
Syracuse University’s Schine Esports and Gaming Center sets a new benchmark for collegiate esports facilities, combining cutting-edge broadcast technology with immersive gaming environments. The project demonstrates how strategic AV integration can support not only competitive gaming but also educational curriculum, all while fostering community engagement.
Schine Esports and Gaming Center: Overview and Challenges
The facility had to provide students with a professional-grade broadcast experience while also accommodating competitive esports and casual gaming activities. Photo courtesy of Horizon AVL.
The Schine Esports and Gaming Center was designed to serve multiple functions beyond traditional gaming. Syracuse University, an education institution renowned for its communications program, needed a facility that would provide students with professional-grade broadcast experience while also accommodating competitive esports and casual gaming activities.
Initially, the university worked with a preliminary technology design that fell short of broadcast production standards. The original design also lacked alignment with Syracuse’s established academic programs and their high-performance expectations. Recognizing these shortcomings, the university sought to engage Horizon AVL / Esports Integration to conduct a comprehensive review and redesign of the entire system.
Schine Esports and Gaming Center: System Redesign and Infrastructure
Horizon AVL / Esports Integration’s comprehensive assessment revealed fundamental issues with the initial approach. The firm’s extensive experience in esports integration enabled them to identify gaps between the proposed technology and industry standards and educational requirements alike. Through a four-month redesign process, Horizon AVL / Esports Integration developed a comprehensive solution that balanced functionality, budget constraints and long-term scalability.
The redesigned system utilizes 12G SDI distribution with the ability to connect to the university’s existing ST2110 infrastructure. This provides the high-bandwidth infrastructure necessary for professional-level broadcast operations. This approach ensures the facility can handle current demands while accommodating future technological advances. The Ross Carbonite broadcast system serves as the centerpiece, complete with graphics engines and replay capabilities that give students hands-on experience with industry-standard equipment.
Schine Esports and Gaming Center: Immersive Visual and Gaming Technologies
The facility’s visual impact can be felt immediately upon entry. Photo courtesy of Horizon AVL.
The facility’s visual impact can be felt immediately upon entry: Expansive DVLED walls serve both functional and aesthetic purposes. These displays showcase gameplay footage, point-of-view camera feeds and broadcast content, creating an engaging environment for participants and spectators alike. The LED installations work in conjunction with professional lighting systems to create broadcast-quality visual production.
Gaming infrastructure spans multiple categories to serve diverse user needs. High-end gaming PCs anchor the competitive gaming areas, while dedicated console stations accommodate different gaming preferences. Three VR rooms provide immersive experiences, complemented by an arcade area and racing simulators. This comprehensive approach ensures the facility appeals to gamers across all skill levels and interests.
Educational Integration and Professional Development
The facility’s design reflects Horizon AVL / Esports Integration’s core principles of curriculum, community and competition. Educational functionality takes precedence, aligning with Syracuse University’s reputation for communications excellence. Students gain practical experience with broadcast cameras, lighting systems and signal routing utilizing 12G SDI distribution with the ability to connect to the university’s existing ST2110 infrastructure.
A dedicated shoutcasting room provides on-camera talent with professional broadcast environments for developing presentation skills. Photo courtesy of Horizon AVL.
A dedicated shoutcasting room provides on-camera talent with professional broadcast environments for developing presentation skills. The technical infrastructure exposes students to industry-standard workflows and equipment, preparing them for immediate transition into professional roles upon graduation.
Installation Process and Timeline Management
The integration timeline required careful coordination among multiple trades and stakeholders. During the design phase, Horizon AVL / Esports Integration collaborated closely with architects and campus planning teams to ensure proper infrastructure placement and mechanical systems integration.
To maximize efficiency, the integration team began warehouse-based pre-configuration of control systems and equipment racks before onsite installation commenced. This approach reduced onsite installation time and minimized disruption to other construction activities.
The onsite installation sequence prioritized structural elements first, beginning with rigging for LED walls, displays, speaker systems and broadcast lighting. Furniture assembly and wire terminations followed, with hardware placement and connections completing the physical installation. Final programming, commissioning and training activities concluded the four-month installation process.
Schine Esports and Gaming Center: Competitive Advantages and Community Impact
The completed facility delivers significant competitive advantages through its comprehensive technology integration. Dante-enabled communications systems provide low-latency communication between teammates and coaches, eliminating the delays associated with cloud-based alternatives. This technical capability directly impacts competitive performance during live events.
The spectator experience benefits from immersive LED wall installations and dedicated viewing areas that transform competitions into engaging community events. The facility design encourages interaction between competitive players and casual gamers, fostering the collaborative environment that lies at the heart of esports culture.
Schine Esports and Gaming Center: Stakeholders are Thrilled
Stakeholders at the university were thrilled with Horizon AVL / Esports Integration’s work on The Schine Esports and Gaming Center. A university spokesperson said their expertise, adaptability and professionalism were evident from day one. From initial planning to final execution, the integrator delivered a best-in-class gaming and esports facility for Syracuse University that exceeded all expectations—without exceeding budgetary limits.
The Schine Esports and Gaming Center establishes a comprehensive model that integrates professional broadcast capabilities with educational objectives and community building — a combination that may well reshape expectations for all collegiate esports programs nationwide.
