Leveling Up: Designing Esports Facilities for the Future of Play

No longer a fringe hobby, Esports is a global phenomenon shaping how people compete, connect, and consume entertainment. What began in the dorm rooms and basements of college campuses has now evolved into a $1.8 billion global industry, with projections that esports audiences will surpass 640 million by 2025. This meteoric rise has placed new demands on physical space, and esports needs a home that matches its energy, scale, and cultural influence.

At Grace, we’re proud to be among the few architectural teams leading this evolution. With decades of experience in community recreation and educational facility design, we are now pioneering the integration of dynamic esports environments into municipal, collegiate, and high school settings across the country. Our work is rooted in real experience, proven strategies, and a deep understanding of how to create immersive spaces that resonate with both competitive players and casual users.

From Rec Rooms to Revenue Generators

The esports spaces we design are more than flashy rooms with monitors. They are community hubs, recruitment tools, and economic engines. In Wentzville, Missouri, we designed what is believed to be the largest esports venue ever included in a community recreation center. The space is open to the public and filled with state-of-the-art gaming technology—welcoming players of all levels. This forward-thinking amenity helps drive new membership and offers a bridge to younger generations often underserved by traditional recreational programming.

Flexibility is King

Whether it's a multi-use space in a community center or a reimagined classroom at a university, flexibility is a non-negotiable priority. We’ve worked with institutions like Saint Louis University to retrofit existing spaces into esports labs, creating scalable, multi-functional areas that support both varsity and recreational gaming. Our designs balance individual and team play with spectator engagement, accommodating evolving technology needs while maintaining adaptable infrastructure for future growth.

At Columbia Basin College, we took it a step further, transforming a full basketball performance arena into a large-format esports venue. With immersive lighting, digital displays, and flexible seating arrangements, the space can flip seamlessly between athletic events and large-scale esports competitions, maximizing ROI for the college and enriching student life.

Immersive Identity & Brand Storytelling

Esports is visual. It’s theatrical. It’s a vibe. Our design approach always includes immersive branding that brings each team’s identity to life. From custom wall graphics and logos to programmable LED lighting that adapts to gameplay, we ensure each space reflects the culture of its users. For Columbia College’s Game Hut—one of the first five collegiate esports programs in the country—we built a gaming headquarters that looks and feels like a digital command center, complete with bold colors, responsive lighting, and performance-enhancing furniture.

The integration of specialized gaming furniture, acoustics, ergonomic planning, and digital signage elevates each space into something far beyond a “room with PCs.” It becomes a destination.

Looking Ahead: Esports as a Civic Asset

We believe esports has the power to unite communities, enhance civic pride, and promote new modes of connection. Whether you’re looking to transform an underused classroom, add high-tech recreation options, or build a regional esports destination, our team understands the balance of form, function, and fandom that makes these spaces successful.