Kingsport City Schools and Dobyns-Bennett High School invite students, families, employees, and the community to attend the Grand Reopening and Ribbon Cutting for the newly renovated Buck Van Huss Dome located at Dobyns-Bennett High School. The celebration will take place on Tuesday, January 28, 2025 during the Dobyns-Bennett Homecoming Basketball games against Gate City High School. 

 

Admission is free for all attendees, with the first 500 attendees receiving a commemorative t-shirt courtesy of Preston Construction.

 

Event highlights:

• Doors open: 4:30 p.m. 
• D-B Varsity Girls Basketball game tip-off: 5:30 p.m.; 
• Ribbon Cutting Ceremony: Immediately following girls game; approximately 7 p.m.;
• Former Student-Athlete Photo: Immediately after Ribbon Cutting (Any former student-athlete that played in the Dome is invited to join the photo);
• Varsity Boys Basketball game tip-off: 7:30 p.m. with Homecoming festivities during halftime. 

"It is with great excitement that we move forward with the reopening of the Buck Van Huss Dome," said Kingsport City Schools Superintendent Dr. Chis Hampton. "The Buck Van Huss Dome renovation exemplifies the Kingsport spirit and will serve the Kingsport and Dobyns-Bennett community for generations to come. Many thanks go out to those who have supported this endeavor. Chief among those is the city of Kingsport. There is no way this project could have happened without the underlying support of city leaders. Additionally, the fine individuals with Thompson & Litton, Preston Construction, Essyx Design, our private donors, and the various school and district leaders who poured themselves into this project. It is a privilege to work and serve in a community that always strives for excellence."

 

The Buck Van Huss Dome renovation, a 2.5-year project, includes a new dome roof, steel ceiling beams, modern HVAC, LED lighting, a state-of-the-art digital scoreboard, upgraded seating, a new gym floor and basketball goals, renovated locker rooms, front plaza, and enhanced accessibility features. Additional improvements include a redesigned Activities Office for safer public entry, revamped entrances, and lobby branding that celebrates Dobyns-Bennett’s athletic heritage.

 

"It is exciting to reopen the Buck Van Huss Dome and for our school community and all of Kingsport to see the incredible improvements that have been made over the past 18 months," said Dobyns-Bennett High School Principal Dr. Brian Tate. "Great care has been taken to make significant updates and renovations while retaining the heritage of this iconic structure. We're thrilled to begin this next chapter at Dobyns-Bennett, knowing what these improvements will mean to our students and community."

 

The project was designed by Thompson & Litton, with construction led by Preston Construction starting in November 2023.

 

For additional information, visit www.k12k.com - Capital Construction Projects.