Dodge City Community College proposes "monolithic dome" activity center

September 01, 2011|By Robert Marin & Alejandra Rojas | KWCH 12 Eyewitness News

(DODGE CITY, Kan.) — A new student center that doubles as a tornado shelter could be coming to Dodge City Community College.

The building would be designed as a "monolithic dome". The design is similar to a new addition built at a school in Fowler that also serves as a tornado shelter.

The new activity center would be built where there are currently tennis courts on the DCCC campus. It would be strong enough to withstand tornado force winds. Inside will be space for student activities, a tornado shelter and possibly even Ford County emergency operations.

The reason college officials say they are looking at the dome design is that it would make the project eligible for a Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, grant to pay for its construction.

"We thought it was very important to be proactive, get our student activities center that's safe, that's a tornado shelter for northwest Dodge City, which would include the college, and be able to do it with some FEMA dollars," said Roger Proffitt with the DCCC Foundation.

The plans for the center include a 125 by 100 covered field which will have an Astroturf surface. The college president says it will give the school a chance to add new intramural activities.

"I think it's a facility that gives us the opportunity to really have a world-class student activities program," said DCCC President Don Woodburn.

The proposal include possibly including space for Ford County emergency operations and dispatch inside the dome. While that possibility has been presented to the County, officials say they are still exploring the option.

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