STUDENT AFFAIRS

Nexus Gaming Lounge, Esports Club provide community for gaming enthusiasts

Designed in partnership between the Esports Club, Norris University Center and Student Affairs, Nexus serves as the Esports Club’s home base and a gaming hub for gamers on campus

When McCormick senior Shannon Tan arrived at Northwestern three years ago, he knew he wanted to join the Esports Club. 

But there was one problem. 

“We didn’t really have a place we could regularly meet,” Tan said. “It was more like random, little friend gatherings.”  

The Esports Club, founded in the 2010s, was the culmination of the League of Legends Club and Super Smash Bros Club. The student organizations combined their passion for competitive video games and became one club. Over the years, the Esports Club has grown to include more game titles and members. 

A new chapter of the club’s history began in 2023 with the completion of their very own meeting space: Nexus Gaming Lounge. 

Nexus is located in the Game Room in the Underground of Norris University Center, and was a product of the collaboration of the Norris staff, Esports Club members and Student Affairs IT (SAIT), according to Linda Luk, Assistant Director for Co-Curricular, Learning and Recreation at Norris. 

“The Esports Club has long championed the creation of a dedicated gaming space on campus,” Luk said. “A key contributor to making this vision a reality was a generous donor, whose support provided much of the space’s furnishings—including desks, chairs, and cabinets.”  

In addition, Norris staff secured the funding for renovations and led the construction, from electrical updates to painting and new carpeting. SAIT selected, purchased and set up the gaming computers and continue to provide technical support for the lounge.  

Esports Club members like Tan were deeply involved in the space’s creation, meeting regularly with Norris and SAIT staff to provide feedback on technology and develop the Nexus brand. 

“It was really inspiring to see the administration understanding that this was a need of the student body, and that people play video games and want to have a space to relax,” Tan said. “And this game room as a whole, not just Nexus, is a place for students to recharge.” 

The space, according to Tan, has been crucial to growing the Esports Club, which has previously faced difficulties when interested members lacked their own equipment.  

Now, the club has more than 60 members who compete in titles like Valorant, Overwatch, Super Smash Bros, and League of Legends against students at other universities. They also have casual members who come for the community and for a chance to de-stress with friends. 

“Our club mission is to just be able to provide a sense of community and belonging for people who enjoy esports and want to play video games at Northwestern,” Tan said. 

Tan said the space is constantly expanding its offerings and has just added virtual reality headsets and streaming and broadcast equipment for the use of the Esports Club. 

Nexus is open to all Northwestern community members with a university net ID, as is the Game Room – a Norris institution since the buildings’ establishment over 50 years ago, complete with billiards tables, gaming consoles, foosball tables and board games. 

Luk said the lounge has welcomed more than 1,000 unique visitors and has seen more than 10,000 hours of gameplay this past academic year. 

Tan recommends visiting the lounge for the community it provides. 

“I think it’s always good to try new things, and especially as we get into an age where everything is digitized, esports is a cool way to connect with people and to share friendships with people, even if you’re not physically very close,” Tan said.   

Visit the Game Room and Nexus Gaming Lounge today, open from 2:30 to 10:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and Sunday, and from 12:00 to 10:30 p.m. Friday through Saturday.