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Impending Winter Storm

Due to the impending storm, all classes and activities at Kean’s main campus in Union, Kean Ocean and Kean Skylands will operate remotely on Sunday, January 25, and Monday, January 26. 

The University will observe a Winter Wellness Day on Tuesday, January 27, following the storm. Classes and activities will not run, and employees are not expected to work. 

Due to ongoing power problems at the Kean Ocean Gateway Building, all classes and activities at Kean Ocean will also be conducted remotely on Friday, January 23, and Saturday, January 24. This only applies to Kean Ocean. 

Only essential personnel should report to work as scheduled during the remote period or on Tuesday. Employees with questions about their status should consult their supervisor. 

Keanu’s Kitchen will remain open for residential students on the Union campus from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Tuesday. 

All vehicles parked on the Union campus must be relocated to the Vaughn-Eames overnight parking lot by 6 p.m. on Saturday to allow for storm cleanup. Vehicles parked elsewhere on campus are subject to relocation. 

Kean Esports Arena Wins ‘Best Esports Project’ Award

Jun 27, 2022
Students sit in rows before video gaming consoles, with a large screen display behind them.

Kean University’s new esports arena has been honored with an industry award for Best Esports Project from a leading technology trade magazine.

The Commercial Integration awards, presented by the trade magazine Commercial Integrator, honor “the most awe-inspiring, immersive and experiential AV projects,” according to the magazine.

“We created the esports arena at Kean to provide our students the opportunity to enter competition in intercollegiate esports as well as an exciting way to socialize on campus,” said President Lamont O. Repollet, Ed.D. “The award from Commercial Integrator demonstrates the attention to detail taken in developing the esports arena, which is already a huge success with students. We are very proud of this project.”

The esports arena opened on the second floor of the Green Lane Academic Building in March. The 3,000-square-foot space features a large screen for competitions, space for up to 50 spectators, state-of-the-art computers built for gaming, and gaming consoles including Nintendo Switch, Sony PlayStation 5 and Xbox.

Kean’s Office of Facilities and Campus Planning worked with the University’s Office of Computer and Information Services (OCIS) and Kean Athletics to develop the space. Horizon AVL, of Blackwood, New Jersey, installed it.

“The esports arena is a state-of-the-art facility, with special lighting, surround sound and a gaming video board to stream the contest,” said Kean Athletic Director Kelly Williams. 

Kean’s esports team competes against other colleges and universities as part of the Eastern College Athletic Conference. There is also recreational time at the arena available for the Kean Esports Club and other students.

“Kean offers a unique, one-of-a-kind experience,” Williams said.

Kean Assistant Vice President for Facilities and Campus Planning Steve Remotti said President Repollet proposed the idea for the arena, then the planning office partnered with OCIS to design it. 

“We’re absolutely thrilled and hope the program continues to grow,” Remotti said.

Horizon AVL worked with Kean to develop the facility based on “curriculum, community and competition,” said company Chief Executive Officer Joshua Kell.

The look of the Kean arena is “retro 80s,” with clean lines, color-changing LED’s and an almost “Tron-like” gaming feel, he said. “This space is truly engaging to a culture and community like no other space that we have created in the past. We are excited to see the esports program at Kean University continue to move forward,” Kell said.

Kean student Olivia Zajkowski, a senior chemistry major, was one of the first players to use the arena at the grand opening in March. 

“Walking in, I actually got really excited because this is brand new. I’ve never experienced this before,” she said. “I’m happy that others are going to be able to experience this.”

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