Building community through gaming

Category: Study at NSCC

Four people sit on couches in the NSCC Truro Campus Esports Lounge, playing a video game.

Since the doors to the Esports Lounge at NSCC Truro Campus opened in fall 2024, it has become a welcoming space for students and employees to relax and connect.

A space for community and learning

Campus Principal, Lech Krzywonos says the space has something for everyone. “We wanted to create a space for students to build community, engage in campus life outside of scheduled class time and participate on various levels, from casual gaming, organized events, to competitive game play,” says Lech. “We also envisioned students and faculty across various programs to use this facility to meet curricular outcomes.”

Esport lounges are dedicated spaces for people to come together to play video games and socialize. Richard Clarke, the Esports Coordinator at the campus, has been instrumental in promoting and managing the space, shaping it into the vibrant community hub it is today.

Someone playing an arcade machine at the Esports Lounge.

In the lead-up to the lounge's opening, Richard collaborated with faculty to find opportunities for students to gain real-life experience in setting up the lounge. “Students contributed as part of their learning outcomes by building computers, assembling stations and arcade cabinets,” Richard notes, adding that NSCC’s Digital Information and Technology team also provided valuable assistance. “This helped establish a sense of culture and community, which is the foundation for the space,” he adds.

Thanks to funding from RBC, Richard was able to hire two student employees, allowing them to expand programming with regular events and have on-the-spot support for guests. One of the student employees is Will Hyndman, a first-year IT Systems Management and Security student, who focuses on events and hardware in the lounge. “I was thrilled to have a dedicated gaming space because we didn't have anything like it before. As a long-time gamer, I saw the incredible potential for this space to impact the College and community,” says Will.

A welcoming environment

The Lounge boasts 10 gaming computers, console stations with PS5s, Wiis and Xboxes, arcade cabinets with a variety of classic games and even a driving simulator, which is a popular choice among guests. “The space is open to anyone, student or employee, regardless of their knowledge or skill level. We have games for both casual players and competitive enthusiasts,” Richard explains. “There's a misconception that, as a 'gaming' space, it's just for Game Programming and Game and Interactive Art students, but that's far from the truth.” Several students in the Achieve program frequently visit the lounge. “It’s a great place to make new friends and play together,” says one Achieve student, with many noting that it’s a wonderful place to make new friends and learn how to play games.

Will attributes part of the lounge’s success to its focus on building a community around the space and making it more than just a gaming area. “Richard has helped create a calm, comfortable environment where everyone can participate, whether they want to play games or just sit down and chat,” he says.

Two students sitting in the Esports Lounge playing a game.

Events and engagement

Reba Powell, a first-year Business Administration student, helps create community for students living on campus through her role as a Community Assistant at the campus student housing, Davis Hall. While she doesn’t consider herself a gamer, she now hosts the Friday night lounge drop-ins, a tradition that started after a resident suggested the idea. “People mostly come for the consoles to play games, but if there's a major sporting event, it’s a big attraction,” says Reba. “Being part of this space that brings people together and makes them comfortable is rewarding. As an international student far from home, I understand the need to relax and take a break from studying. It's a chill place where you can feel comfortable hanging out with friends.”

The lounge also hosts regular programming and events. “We’ve held several holiday-themed events and game-specific events like Rocket League tournaments or Fortnite free plays,” says Richard. “On April 16, Game Development students had a Game Launch party to celebrate the release of their second-year, second-term game projects.”

As Campus Principal, Lech is pleased with the success of the lounge. “It’s been great to see how it’s evolved into a vibrant part of the campus and a place where students enjoy spending time.”

Looking ahead, Richard sees even more opportunities for the lounge to connect and grow. “This space is a reflection of our community at NSCC and I'm very proud to be a part of it.”