The American Council of Engineering Companies of Pennsylvania has announced its 2011 Diamond Award winners for engineering excellence, and the Mike S. Zafirovsky Sports and Recreation Center was cited and received a Certificate of Excellence in the Structural Systems category.

The award recognizes that Edinboro University’s 85,000-square-foot, air‑supported dome demonstrates an economic and practical solution to the problem of providing a year-round venue for athletics and campus events.  The dome structure enhances the school’s athletic program by providing a place to train even in harsh weather.  The facility, which is large enough to accommodate a full lacrosse field, is 370-feet long, 230-feet wide, and 72-feet high.  It contains four multi-use courts for use in basketball, volleyball, tennis, and other indoor activities, in addition to a full NCAA-compliant indoor track facility, including a 237-meter running track, high jump, pole vault, weight throw, and long and triple jump pits.

The relatively low-cost and fast-track design and construction set a precedent for using air‑supported structures for permanent high-occupancy facilities.

Urban was responsible for the engineering design, including site/civil, stormwater, grading, geotechnical, and structural design and review; construction administration and construction inspection; and mechanical, electrical, and plumbing design.

Architectural services were provided by Gary Matczak Architects and the construction Contractor was Considine Biebel & Co.