David N. Wilson Multipurpose Center
The main entrance of the David N. Wilson Dome multipurpose educational facility on the Payson High School campus. Completed in 1997, it is the first standalone Monolithic Dome gymnasium.
The Wilson Dome—aka the Payson Athletic Center—is the first standalone Monolithic Dome gymnasium ever constructed. Completed in 1997 for Payson High School in Payson, Arizona, the dome features a competition court, wrestling room, rest rooms, weight rooms, concessions, four coaches offices, two sets of boys and girls locker rooms, storage space and more.
The dome is 200-feet (61 m) diameter by 50-feet (15 m) tall with seating for 2,400 people—quadruple that of the old gymnasium. The competition court hosts basketball, volleyball, wrestling, and other tournaments. The bleachers retract to create two basketball courts or multiple volleyball courts.
The facility was called the Payson Athletic Center, but was renamed to the Dave Wilson Dome in honor of the police chief who lost his life in the line of duty.
The structure is not only the first standalone Monolithic Dome gym, but it was also the first Monolithic Dome project by architect Rick Crandall who went on to design many iconic Monolithic Dome projects.
Beyond sports, the dome has demonstrated its value as a community hub. In June and July of 2021, during the Backbone Fire—which devastated over 40,000 acres (16,000 ha) near Payson—the Wilson Dome became a crucial evacuation shelter for those displaced by the wildfire. Its durability, spaciousness, and accessibility made it a safe haven in a time of crisis.
With seating for 2400, the Wilson Dome quadrupled the capacity of the old gymnasium. The competition court splits into two courts when the bleachers are retracted. The facility includes a wrestling room, weight rooms, coaches offices, locker rooms, and more.