The city and California-based Eon Reality each contributed $1.5 million to create the Duncanville Entrepreneurial School in the city’s former public library on West Wheatland Road.
The center for software development celebrated its grand opening May 14.
“One of our goals, our pillars, is to become the virtual reality capital of the country,” City Council member Cliff Boyd said. “Virtual reality is an absolute footprint on all future development — of education, industry training and product development.”
Although some critics have questioned whether the goal can be reached, Boyd and other city officials say the project can set students on career paths immediately.
Grant money covered the city’s costs, and the company will pay back that $1.5 million in rent over 10 years, Assistant City Manager Charles Smith said.
“We haven’t exposed our taxpayers to anything, and it’s a great opportunity for us to grow,” he said.
Haskell Gray, Eon’s southwest business developing manager, said the 7,000-square-foot facility will be used as a yearlong school for developers and as a showcase for the company’s latest 3D equipment for potential clients.
The school is free for 20 accepted students, and the first group started May 1. Classes are conducted five evenings a week in a lab where students can use 3D monitors.
When students aren’t in class, they can use the facility to work on the company’s projects and build their portfolios.
Council members, state leaders and company officials are expected to attend Thursday’s ribbon-cutting ceremony.
“This is an exciting opportunity for Duncanville,” Mayor David Green said. “They have facilities in England, Singapore, Dubai and Russia, but we are very fortunate to be able to be the first school in the United States.”
Despite excitement from city officials, some residents have raised concerns about the school.
Karen Hall, a local accountant and member of the Duncanville Virtual Reality Innovation Commission, said she was worried the company could abandon the facility before repaying the city.
Smith and Gray agreed the company would owe the city money if it broke the contract, but they expressed confidence in the project.
The Duncanville showroom includes the latest in 3D technology, including the company’s Icube, which allows users to be surrounded by virtual images.
“You can see exactly what some of the systems look like, and we can reach out to these clients in the industry, education and entertainment fields and bring them here and show them exactly what we are talking about,” Gray said.
Eon clients include Irving-based Exxon Mobil, BP and the University of Loyola at Chicago.
The city seized on the opportunity for the school after a virtual reality partnership between Eon and Mountain View Community College fell through. Gray said the college expressed interest in a deal to use 3D technology in the classroom, but the school did not want to enter into a commercial venture.
Duncanville leaders, though, believe the relationship will be mutually beneficial.
Eon officials said about half of its students could be offered full-time jobs with the company after they graduate from the program. Council members say they hope the rest of the students will stick around to begin their careers and attract other virtual reality companies to the city.
Smith said that whether or not students get jobs with the company, they all will learn valuable skills. They’ll be able to develop 3D applications that help “learn how to deal with emergencies in a nonemergency situation.”
“How many times do you think an astronaut gets to mess up in outer space?” Smith said. “Never. Just never.”
©2015 The Dallas Morning News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
