Board members tour Dome

Hennessey school board members went through a five-person airlock chamber Tuesday night before they got inside The Dome that was inflated with 36,000 pounds of air last month.

Once inside, it looked like a movie set from “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” except for the construction workers who clanged on re-enforced steel for the two-tier building.

The board took a 45-minute break from their regular meeting to see the progress on the school’s 30,000 square foot facility that will be used as a gymnasium, safe room and house the administration offices.

Interior construction will continue throughout the winter months due to the unusual interior design of the dome. It was inflated with 36,000 pounds of air, then three inches of foam insulation was added to the walls and hundreds of yards of concrete over re-enforced steel.

Completion by Wynn Construction and South Industries is expected in late November.

Exterior Structure

Once back in session at the seminar room, architect Michael McCoy, fielded questions and comments from the board. Most of the comments came from Patrick Griffin, vice president, who said they want the exterior of the structure to blend in with the rest of the buildings on the campus.

Board member Joe Garrison held up his cell phone and said he didn’t want the building to look like “this building.” It was the Oklahoma City Jail.

“It’s going to be harder to get out of this one than it is the Oklahoma City Jail,” McCoy said.

Wow Factors

Garrison said he likes the glass windows in the front foyer, but wants “more of a wow factor.”

He questioned having the 10x32 ft. scoreboard at the south end (entrance) instead of the north end that people would see when they enter.

McCoy said he understood that was due to a clearance issue at the south end and that call was up to the audio-visual designers.

Garrison said it would also be better to have the stage at the north end.

“It’s just more money,” said the architect about the building that’s expected to cost $8.4 million.

Griffin said they could name it the Joe Garrison Event Center if he wanted to make a large donation.

Seating

Griffin asked when a decision would be made about the seating. He was at a tournament in Enid and said the seats were excellent. They were wide, padded, had cup holders and the arm rests could be moved, he said.

McCoy said he didn’t know what the school had ordered.

Board member Luke Lough said he’d been asked by women which would be the home side of the gym because they want it to be on the east side where the restrooms are located.

Supt. Dr. Mike Woods said restrooms were originally set on each side of the complex, but they’d had recommendations that would have caused congestion problems with concession stand lines so they changed it to only one side.