Illinois School District Inflates New Gymnasium

School custodian gets the ball rolling for small community

June 30, 2005

by Kris Garrison
Photo courtesy of Darryll Sy

Head Custodian, Bob Carr for Pontiac/William Holiday School District in Fairview Heights, Illinois ran across an advertisement for Monolithic Dome schools in a custodial/maintenance magazine and shared the information with school officials. It wasn't too long after that, Pontiac school district was visiting our website and trying to pass construction bonds to build a new gymnasium.

Very few people were willing to get out of bed at 6:00 am on Wednesday, June 29, 2005 to witness the inflation of the 110-foot diameter gymnasium. However, The William Holliday Principal, Bill Fulk, and Superintendent, Darryll L. Sy were not only awake, but were on top of the Wm. Holliday roof shooting digital movie and still photographs. They recorded the entire inflation and have posted construction photos on the school website. When complete, the copper-colored roof will enhance the light-colored brick on the 14' stemwall.

William Holliday Elementary School houses approximately 477 preK-6th grade level students and approximately 155 seventh and eighth grade students. The 110-foot diameter gymnasium will service both campuses and feature a full-size gym, two offices and a bandroom.

Jason Guffey, Construction Manager from Dome Technology of Idaho Falls, has been overseeing the project from the beginning and will complete Dome shell construction. LeLand Gray of LPDJ Architecture designed the gymnasium.

The community response to a Monolithic Dome gymnasium has been positive. Sy said, "Most really like the fact that it is a great tornado shelter for the kids." According to Darryl Sy it took five referendums to get an $800,000 construction bond passed. He said, "The bonds only add a nickel to our tax rate."

According to David B. South, the Dome is costing the district approximately one half of what other proposed structures would have cost. School officials are looking forward to low HVAC costs, minimal maintaince on the exterior of the building and a shorter construction timeline. Estimated completion date is Thanksgiving 2005.

To view more photos:
Pontiac-Wm. Holliday School District Home Page

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Illinois School District Inflates New Gymnasium

School custodian gets the ball rolling for small community

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