Central City Opens the First Monolithic Dome Gym in Nebraska
The main entrance to the Bison Activity Dome — the high school gymnasium and safe room storm shelter. The facility can seat almost 2,100 people at events and hold 2,800 during a tornado watch.
Earlier this month, a new Monolithic Dome gymnasium and safe room opened at Central City High School. It’s the first Monolithic Dome gym in the state of Nebraska. Steve White of Nebraska.tv was there to cover the open house.
Central City thinks outside the box with a well rounded facility that’s the first of its kind in the state as the high school opens its new dome.
“This is as good as a college.”
This mom can’t believe it as she sees where her son will play.
“Holy buckets, this is awesome,” Donnette Van Pelt remarked as she scoped out the new gym that’s beyond her expectations.
It’s a wide open space to watch a basketball or volleyball game. “It almost has that arena feel,” said Superintendent Jeff Jensen.
The gym—constructed by Dome Technology of Idaho Falls, Idaho—will hold about 2,100 spectators, and almost 2,800 people can shelter during tornadoes. It is the dual purpose of the dome that made its construction possible. Because it’s a safe room, the school district applied for and received a grant from FEMA for $4 million that covered over half of the $7.7 million facility.
“$4 million coming to Central City, Nebraska is kind of like winning the lottery,” Jensen said.
Read the rest of White’s report, Well rounded: Central City opens new dome that serves as gym and storm shelter, on Nebraska.tv or watch the report below.
Superintendent Jeff Jensen posted photos on Facebook. And a local YouTuber posted two stories with videos and photos.