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Winfield Dunn Center

The Winfield Dunn Center has been home to Governors athletics since it opened in 1975. Located at the corner of Marion Street and Drane Street on the Austin Peay State University campus, the facility was completed in 1975 at a cost of approximately $5.3 million.

The 132,000-square-foot complex was officially named the Winfield Dunn Health and Physical Education Building and Convocation Complex in honor of then-Governor Winfield Dunn. The dominating edifice is over seven stories tall, with 78 feet separating the top of the building from its playing surface. The Dunn Center, which was nicknamed "The House that Fly Built" upon completion, officially became the home of the Austin Peay men’s basketball team on Dec. 1, 1975, and served as the home of both the Governors men’s and women’s basketball teams through the 2022-23 season.

Since Austin Peay’s basketball teams moved to F&M Bank Arena after the 2022-23 season, the Dunn Center is the home playing facility for the Governors’ volleyball program. Seating nearly 4,500 individuals in its volleyball seating configuration, it is one of the largest volleyball-only facilities among NCAA Division I programs. In its commencement and concert seating configuration, the facility seats nearly 6,000 individuals.

During the 2023 season, Austin Peay purchased a Taraflex Sports Flooring system. The new volleyball surface features an Austin Peay themed volleyball court design.

On Jan. 16, 1988, the basketball arena contained within the Dunn Center was named Dave Aaron Arena in honor of the school's former athletics director, football coach, and then all-time winningest basketball coach. In the Summer of 2007, the playing surface was named "Dave Loos Court" in honor of the longtime Governors basketball coach and director of athletics, who surpassed Aaron's win total during his storied career.

It may also serve as an indoor practice facility for the athletic department's other sports when inclement weather prevents the use of their respective outdoor facilities. In addition, the University's commencement ceremonies are held in the facility, and it is host to area high school commencement ceremonies each May, in addition to programs for the Clarksville-Montgomery County School Systems.

The Dunn Center houses offices for the entire athletics department staff and the David P. Roe Athletic Academic Services Center. It also contains coaching office space for football, volleyball, softball, men’s golf, women’s golf, and women’s soccer. The Dunn Center Weight Room is maintained within the facility. Austin Peay’s Health and Human Performances offices and classrooms are also housed in the Dunn Center.

The Dave Aaron Arena has undergone extensive renovations since 2004. By the end of Summer 2013, the entire facility had been revamped with new seating, a new playing surface, new scoreboards, and a spectacular new video board. The David P. Roe Athletic Academic Services Center was constructed in 2006 under the seats located on the second floor of the south end. The Governor's weight room has also been extensively remodeled. The court was repainted in Summer 2019 to its current design.

Winfield Dunn Center Timeline