Broome-Kirk Gymnasium was constructed in 1955 at a cost of $968,685. Designed by J. N. Pease and Company of Charlotte, NC, it housed the Dept. of Health, Physical Education and Athletics and was known as the Physical Education Building and later the Health and Physical Education Building. It contained 69,000 square feet of floor space, a swimming pool, six classrooms, a conference room, a lecture room, dressing rooms for women and men, a training room, a wrestling room, and a departmental library. The bleachers sat 2,500 spectators for indoor sports and physical education activities. For non-sporting events, such as concerts and commencement, an additional 500 temporary chairs could be added to accommodate 3,000 people. In addition to being used for physical education classes and swimming competitions, the swimming pool was also used for recreational purposes by students and university faculty and their family members.
The building was formally dedicated as Broome-Kirk Gymnasium on August 7, 1966. It was named for Robert W. Broome and John Z. Kirk, Jr. Broome served as Assistant Professor of Health and Physical Education from 1947 until his death in 1959. He coached football and baseball and was named head football coach in 1956. Kirk received his B.S. degree from Appalachian in 1948 and his M.A. in 1950. Later that year, he became a social studies instructor and assistant football coach. He was eventually promoted to assistant professor. From 1960 until his death in 1961, Kirk was the Dean of Men at Appalachian.
The gymnasium was demolished in 2006 after the new student recreation center opened. The Roess Dining Hall was built on the site where the gymnasium once stood.
Source: Appalachian State Teachers College Bulletin (1956, 1962, 1965, 1967), The Appalachian (December 8, 1955), University Archives Subject File Collection (UA 52), Dedication Program (University Archives Ephemera Collection, UA 35)
