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Pictured on the left is the impressive WVU Coliseum, located at the
intersection of Patteson
Dr. & Jerry West Blvd. The Coliseum is just minutes away from both the
Evansdale
and Main Campus of WVU. The Coliseum is home to the School of Physical
Education and WVU athletics. Now 30 years old, yet still impressive in its
initial visual impact, stunning in its spacious yet simplistic structure and
versatile in its myriad uses, the WVU Coliseum is one of the nation's supreme
showcases for college basketball. Whether it is during the day, when the
sun shines down on the massive structure, or at night, when its golden lights
make it an evening showcase, the Coliseum stands as one of the most striking
facilities on the WVU campus and played a major role in the expansion of the
area known as the Evansdale Campus.
The 14,000 seat, domed arena has been the home of the School of Physical
Education and Mountaineer Athletics for more than a quarter of a century, but
its many uses include
Last year, the impressive structure was closed for about a year when officials
shut down the facility for asbestos removal. The athletic department and
physical education offices were moved to
In addition to its academic and athletic priorities the Coliseum serves as a hub
for community-based activities
At the floor level is where
Doug Satterfield
and staff manage the PE Equipment Cage,
Additional facilities of the School of Physical
Education include the Shell Building which houses coaches offices, the
Natatorium where the swimming and diving wells are located, a rifle range,
indoor track, multipurpose sports area, weight training room, martial arts room.
Outdoor areas
More about the Coliseum... In
1971, the WVU Coliseum received a major architectural design award from the
Pittsburgh chapter of the American Concrete Institute for being the "Outstanding
Concrete Structure of the Year." An Action-cushion Floating Panel hardwood floor
is the latest addition to the venerable facility, keeping the 30-year-old arena
contemporary in architecture and amenities for the new millennium. That
refurbishment only enhances the Mountaineer experience in one of the premiere
arenas in the country. A state of the art Daktronics, Inc., scoreboard was
installed in 1995 replacing the Coliseum's original 25-year-old scoreboard. The
new scoreboard was part of a $1.6 million project to renovate several
scoreboards on the WVU campus. The new board, which features a giant, full-color
message center, expanded score and statistics panels and rotating
advertisements, equals the scoreboards of other prominent universities such as
Michigan, Wisconsin, Penn State and Michigan State. At the WVU Coliseum,
all 14,000 blue theater-type seats in the main arena allow for comfortable
viewing of any event. The ribbed, rafterless roof and modern architectural
design give a clear, unobstructed view of the playing floor from every seat.
Central ventilation units provide climate-controlled comfort in all types of
weather. The Coliseum sound system is so intricate that four lectures can be
heard simultaneously without conflict; in fact, classes are often held while
14,000 cheering fans are watching a basketball game.
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commencement,
concerts, conferences, floor shows and a host of educational and athletic
events. The Coliseum floor is truly an all purpose location which is used
for PE classes, basketball games, volleyball games, gymnastics and wrestling
matches, graduation, concerts and lectures. If necessary it can even
be divided in four individual lecture halls at one time. Even with 14,000
fans cheering the Mountaineers on, classes can still be held in the building
with no interruptions. The Coliseum ranks second only to the Mountainlair (WVU's
student union building) in everyday activity. The Coliseum has
hosted conference basketball tournament championships, NCAA basketball and
gymnastics regionals as well as many other tournament events. 
office buildings and other
campus settings. The Coliseum is back in full use for this season. Built in 1970
at a cost of $10.4 million, the Coliseum serves as the home of the WVU School of
Physical Education and much of the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics.
Nearly 100 offices, 13 lecture and seminar rooms, a dance studio, 2 computer
labs, racquetball and squash courts, conference rooms and the Jerry West
Mountaineer Room are included in the structure's 10.5 million cubic feet of
space. It is also the home
competition site for Mountaineer men's basketball, gymnastics, wrestling and
volleyball teams. Eleven other varsity sports use the facility as their training
and equipment headquarters as well.
through the
located at the base of the
Green gate staircase. Here students have access to a plethora of PE & Audio
Visual Equipment, including anything you would need to play or teach: Tennis,
Golf, Soccer, Football, Softball, Baseball, Hockey, Badminton, Volleyball,
Racquetball, Archery and many more athletic activities. Here is also where our
students also have access to 1,000 locker units, towel & laundry service, and
various dressing rooms located adjacent to the playing floor. It is added
accessories like these that make the building so special to our students and
community, making it able to host an endless array of events.
including
the baseball & soccer stadium, tennis courts, archery range, soccer and field
hockey fields, and outdoor track flank the building. Other staff offices,
which are not pictured, are located downtown in Stansbury Hall, Elizabeth Moore Hall; and
the Mountainlair. 
