Griff’s Game Room Opens as New Hub for Connection and Community
Students eagerly played air hockey at Griff’s Game Room.(Photo by Luis Gerardo Del Razo Tamayo) 
The Switch couch was quickly a popular spot for students.(Photo by Samantha Autumn) 
Griff, Student Government Association President Georgia Winn ’26, and Emerson College President Dr. Jay M. Bernhardt, cut the purple ribbon. (Photo by Derek Palmer MA ’20) 
Uno has been a popular game for decades for people of all ages. (Photo by Samantha Autumn) 
Students enjoyed playing foosball. (Photo by Samantha Autumn) 
Do we have any pool sharks at Emerson College? (Photo by Samantha Autumn) 
Students enjoyed gathering together to play one of the myriad board games. (Photo by Samantha Autumn) 
The decor of Griff’s Game Room pays homage to one alum’s favorite spots — The Wall. (Photo by Derek Palmer) 
Students enjoyed playing games with the Switch 2. (Photo by Samantha Autumn) 
The decor includes a neon Griff’s sign. (Photo by Samantha Autumn) 
Instead of playing 8 Ball, should we play Purple ball? (Photo by Derek Palmer) 
Griff’s Game Room is a third space — offering a new location for students to gather to play, relax, and socialize. (Photo by Derek Palmer) 
The scene was a blur as students filed in, eager to play in Griff’s Game Room. (Photo by Luis Gerardo Del Razo Tamayo) 
Griff was excited about his new room! (Photo by Luis Gerardo Del Razo Tamayo) 
A Star Wars pinball game is waiting for you to challenge the Sith. (Photo by Derek Palmer)
Game on, Emerson.
Students looking for a break from classes, rehearsals, and deadlines now have a new place to press pause and play. Griff’s Game Room, a colorful new “third space” on the second floor of the Little Building, debuted with a grand opening ceremony on January 13.
“We are here to open a new chapter on how we connect with each other,” said Emerson College President Dr. Jay M. Bernhardt. “The strongest communities are born in the time between the hard work that we do. You asked for more spaces to gather and strengthen your bonds, and we believe in the power of play to break down barriers and create these connections.”
“The SGA heard that students want more spaces to gather,” said Student Government Association (SGA) President Georgia Winn ’26. “Third spaces like Griff’s Game Room are where we become a close community. I hope students really take to this place. I hope it becomes loud, welcoming, and loved by our community.”
Bernhardt, Winn, and the students, faculty, and staff who attended the purple ribbon-cutting ceremony were joined by Emerson’s mascot, Griff the Lion, who was excited to share his new game room. When asked about the opening of his new room, Griff replied with an enthusiastic double fist-pump and a little dance.
Overlooking the Boston Common, Griff’s Game Room is a place designed to foster connection and community building, which is a priority in Extraordinary Emerson 2030, the College’s strategic plan. The new game room, which Bernhardt strongly supports, is a tangible example of the College’s commitment to building a vibrant and inclusive campus experience by creating new spaces and opportunities for the community can come together.
Griff’s is filled with a wide variety of games: from classic board games like Monopoly and Jenga, to Nintendo Switch 2 games, to more physical activities such as foosball, billiards, and air hockey. Its design is bright, colorful, and modern, brought together by a neon sign of Griff that is reminiscent of old school arcades.
After the ribbon cutting, students, staff, and faculty rushed to play games and enjoy Emerson’s newest gathering spot.
Colten Hitchcock ’27 was immediately drawn to the Star Wars: Fall of the Empire pinball machine, which is next to a multicade arcade machine equipped with 10 pages of classic arcade titles such as Pac-Man and Donkey Kong.
“I love how this place provides the ability to hang out with my friends while surrounded by a bunch of cool stuff,” said Hitchcock.
In the same room with a large screen and a comfy couch, a considerable number of students gathered around the Switch 2, eager to play different titles like Mario Kart World and Super Smash Bros Ultimate.
“I’m really excited about the opportunity to play games with my friends here, particularly on the Switch,” said Ryn Brierley ’27.
Awaiting her turn at the Switch, Emma Lavenson ’27 was excited by the collections of board and card games available in Griff’s Game Room. A table-top game aficionado, Lavenson was one of the students involved with play-testing the various board games.
“I’m most excited about the chance to learn new board games here with people I haven’t met before,” said Lavenson.
In the adjacent room, which is home to billiards, foosball, and air-hockey station, students playfully competed as the sounds of laughter and clashing pucks filled the air. The room is adorned with posters of movies and TV shows that Emerson alumni were involved in, such as White Lotus with Jennifer Coolidge ’85, and a Bill Burr ’93 comedy special.
Chris MacDougall ’27 and Hugo Billiau ’29 said that Griff’s Game Room offers a great spot to hang out with friends and unwind between classes.
Billiau said he likes that Griff’s Game Room is a space to make friends with similar interests. That notion that also spoke to MacDougall
“I like how this place gets a lot of people engaged in fun activities, and I love how it serves as a third space outside of class and dormrooms,” said MacDougall.
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