Extron DTP Switching and Connectivity Helps Highland Community College Create State-of-the-Art Esports Hub

The reliability, features, and simplicity of Extron products make all the difference in keeping our esports center running smoothly.

Highland Community College (HCC) was the first community college established in Freeport, Illinois. The college offers over 60 degrees and certificates in academic programs and has an exceptional 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio, which allows more student support and individual attention from each instructor.

HCC's esports team won league championships in the Spring of 2023 and again in 2024. After watching the team grow in popularity, HCC saw a need for a new high-performance esports facility. A suitable space was identified, a budget was allocated, and the project scope was defined with coaches and HCC's Information Technology Services (ITS) team.

CHALLENGES

The team envisioned a facility capable of hosting weekend-long tournaments with high schools in the local area. These tournaments would give students a hands-on experience competing in an esports environment. The room also needed to foster teamwork, collaboration, and a strong sense of community between players and coaches.

The presentation needed the capability to switch seamlessly between gaming stations and send the signals to large screen displays. To achieve this, the athletic director and coaches relied on Extron AV technologies to build a presentation system capable of 4K scaling while maintaining uninterrupted signal integrity.

DESIGN SOLUTION

The design team, led by Michael Gunderson, Certified Technology Specialist (CTS) and ITS Support Specialist, transformed a distance learning classroom into an esports hub. Pete Fink, Director of ITS, and his team carried desks across campus and rearranged them to set up gaming stations, which included high-performance PCs, gaming chairs, and monitors to create a dynamic environment.

The room is equipped with cutting-edge yet budget-conscious technology. At the front of the room, two large projector screens allow players to view each other’s stats and gameplay while coaches can monitor each player’s development. Gunderson has several years of experience using Extron products, which gave him confidence in choosing Extron for this project.

SWITCHING & CONNECTIVITY

The DTP CrossPoint 84 4K matrix switcher is the backbone of the system. The matrix switcher streamlines integration with PCs and displays at 4K resolutions. The high-definition signals deliver a dynamic viewing experience, ensuring players and coaches can see all the action during gameplay.

The integration team selected DTP T HWP 4K 231 D wallplate transmitters and DTP HDMI 4K 230 Rx receivers to work along with the matrix switcher to route signals. Remote transmitters and receivers are powered by the DTP matrix switcher, minimizing cable clutter and reducing the number of power supplies used in the facility.

ROOM CONTROL

An Extron EBP 200 button panel sits on the coach’s desk. The button panel is used alongside the DTP CrossPoint matrix switcher, enabling coaches to easily switch between screens, adjust the audio volume during gameplay, and more. With the simplicity of the button panel, coaches can efficiently analyze each player’s gameplay, ensuring players receive accurate feedback in real time.

FACILITY EXPANSION

Highland Community College recently underwent a major upgrade to its esports facility, once again relying on Extron technologies to support its expansion. These upgrades include a fully renovated instructor station and redesigned layout to improve visibility and collaboration.

At the core of the new system, two Extron DTP CrossPoint 84 4K matrix switchers were added. The additional matrix switchers enable the connection of multiple gaming PCs and consoles to various screens, ensuring all content is displayed in 4K resolution. The new TLP Pro 1225MG touchpanel enables coaches to switch between gaming feeds, adjust audio, and manage displays, all from an intuitive touchpanel. With these enhancements, HCC continues to deliver a professional-grade esports experience for students and staff.

RESULTS

The new esports facility is a big hit across campus and amongst outside guests. Students enjoy high-quality audio and visuals during practice sessions and tournaments, while coaches focus on improving team coordination and player development.

Extron’s reliable, high-performance technology lets players and coaches compete and train in a dynamic, fast-paced environment. HCC has made Extron products its first choice when considering upgrades to the new esports facility.

We have Extron products that have remained powered on for over 12 years and that we still use every day.

Featured Extron Products