EUP sports dome from The Meadville Tribune on Vimeo

EDINBORO — While driving by the campus of Edinboro University, one may notice what appears to be an extra large mound of plowed snow across the street from Sox Harrison Stadium.

However, the dome-like structure found just a few hundred yards south of Route 6N is actually one of the newest additions to campus, the Mike S. Zafirovski Sports and Recreation Center.

The facility has an interior area of about 85,100 square feet and can normally hold 1,900 people with special approval for 6,000 on four occasions per year. It is 370 feet long, 230 feet wide and 72 feet high.

While the project is visibly moving along pretty quickly, it will not be finished by the December 2008 date the school originally hoped for. Public Relations Associate Director Jeff Pinski said it will not be completely functional until around early spring due to weather conditions.

The facility, also known as the “sports dome,” will feature a 230-meter track, four multi-use courts, high jump, pole vault and long jump, as well as a field large enough for lacrosse.

The massive structure is planned to be used for many campus activities, including but not limited to athletics.

“There’s plans to do Commencement and other things here,” Director of Athletics Bruce Baumgartner said. “You’re looking at 85,000 square feet, so there’s a lot of opportunity. It will be fine for football, lacrosse, soccer, baseball, softball, basketball, volleyball, wrestling. We’ll have more opportunities for camps, and it will be heated and air conditioned in there.”

Class of 1975 alumnus Zafirovski was the chief donor with $1.5 million for the approximately 5-million dollar project, which has actually been in planning for about 20 years.

“Twenty years ago a bunch of the coaches and athletic administration got together and really thought an indoor practice facility and/or indoor track facility like we’re creating right now would be a great idea,” Baumgartner said. “That was set aside and always talked about until Dr. (Jeremy) Brown got here. It satisfies athletic needs, recreation needs, community needs.”

Baumgartner went on to explain that in our area there is a great need to have a large facility which will protect students and athletes from the elements during the winter and summer.