After having trouble financing the arcade portion of its facility, the GRID Lab will close its doors to students and area residents later this year and move to Scott Quadrangle.
The Game Research and Immersive Design Lab, currently located on Court Street, will close June 15. The lab will shut its doors to approximately 3,700 members who use its video game systems, instead concentrating on research.
We decided that the research wing has had a lot of success
so we are refocusing our mission around research development said GRID Lab Co-director John Bowditch.
The GRID Lab is a testing platform for research and development of interactive technology, according to its Web site. The lab works with various organizations and institutions in the region to further knowledge of gaming and technology.
The arcade wasn't making enough money to renew the lease on the building on Court Street, Bowditch said. The lab pays $2,500 monthly for rent and an additional $1,900 monthly for previous renovations, he said.
Because the lab is an initiative of the college, it is part of the college's budget, Co-director Ben Schneider said, adding that he doesn't know the exact dollar figure.
The decision to move the lab and to end daily operation was made by Bowditch and Schneider along with Scripps College of Communication Dean Greg Shepherd.
Our goal never was to make the arcade space profitable Bowditch said. Given the current state of the economy and the money we would have to put into it
we decided that it would be best to put (that money) into research.
Merchandise sales and charges for game play make up the bulk of the money made from the retail aspect, Schneider said. The lab is also funded by various grants.
The biggest heartbreak for us is that the community won't have access to the facility
Bowditch said. It's a big disappointment.
The closing will allow for further focus on several of the GRID Lab's research and development projects, including work with the Columbus Police Department and the Department of Homeland Security to develop a police training program.
The lab also receives funding from the National Institutes of Health for a computer program called Foodmaster, which is used in elementary and middle schools across Athens County to teach math and science through cooking.
The lab still plans to hold various activities for high school and college students. The administrators are also looking into hosting workshops, parties and other special events.
Although the lab won't be regularly open to the public, it will continue to work with organizations such as Kids on Campus and Athens Association of Gifted Children, Schneider said.
The GRID Lab will continue to use most of the video game equipment being used by the public for its research and development projects. The rest will be given to other departments at OU interested in the equipment, Schneider said.
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Kelly Masterson
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Ohio University's Game Research and Immersive Design Lab, also known as the GRID Lab, will be closing its location at 5 Court St. on June 15. While the arcade and videogame area will be officially closed to the public, the equipment will be moved to Sco
