Dome News - Winter 1999

MDI now has a new website-with an online bulletin board providing Monolithic Dome builders with an electronic means for finding supplies, posting questions and receiving answers, and advertising to potential clients. The site has four categories for posting messages: Construction, Equipment and Materials, Designing, Do-It-Yourself. A directory of architects, engineers and builders also can be accessed, and registration for Workshops and Conferences can be done online. Since 1994, more than 600 attendees have completed MDI's Workshops. So, the need for a website uniting the new builders and providing them with an information resource became obvious. Help for builders interested in creating their own web page also now is available through MDI. For existing websites, links can be established free of charge. We at MDI hope that every Monolithic Dome builder will join this online community.

Contact rebecca@domebuilders.com with your questions, comments or suggestions.

New Projects at Jack Soderstrom's JOA-- Jack Soderstrom, owner of JOA (Jack-of-All) Construction in Trinidad, Colorado plans to encircle his complex with a 236-foot, spray-in-place, concrete fence; build three 12'x10' EcoShells; and construct a two-story, 50'x18' Monolithic Dome shop for his foam-spraying business.

Global Dome Homes Joe Gora, owner of Global Dome Homes, plans to build his first Monolithic Dome home in Atlanta, Georgia. This 42-foot diameter dome will offer 1585 square feet of living space, with an elevated kitchen at its center. Light will flood the dome through sets of augmented windows and skylights. Joe, whose firm offers "not just a house but a new life-style," will participate in the Atlanta Home Show and the Atlanta Life Show, which features alternative lifestyles.

21st Century Homes Broadcast Monolithic Dome homes will play a starring role on HGTV's feature presentation, titled 21st Century Homes, scheduled to air on Tuesday, December 7, 1999, 3:30 p.m. PST and 6:30 p.m. EST.

CHFA Approval in Colorado Cheryl Roberts of LaJunta, Colorado applied for and successfully received financing for the construction of her 32'-diameter Monolithic Dome home through the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority . According to information on its website, CHFA "is a public enterprise working to finance affordable housing, business and economic growth opportunities for Colorado." CHFA offers "home ownership mortgages to qualifying low- and moderate-income Colorado individuals and families." To get her mortgage, Cheryl had to prove the Monolithic Dome's strength, durability, and energy-efficiency to CHFA's satisfaction. The Roundup Journal will report the details of that experience in a future issue.

Bayrock, built by Michael Bobzien in Port St. Joe, Florida

Bayrock Available for Sale or Rent Bayrock, a beautiful Monolithic Dome vacation home with 4000 square feet of living area, overlooking the Bay of St. Joe in Florida's panhandle, is now available for sale or rent. Michael Bobzien, Bayrock's builder and owner, says that he's currently constructing a second Monolithic Dome home which "is nearing a point where we could move into it." Bayrock's unique features include a twelve-foot diameter copula with a 360-degree view of the bay and the ocean; porches with 68 feet of glass; four bedrooms situated so that you can watch the sunrise from bed; a Jacuzzi and steam shower. And it's hurricane-proof. More information at: www.beach-rentals.net or (850) 229 6090.

Alaskan Experience In an article titled "The New Dome-steaders," printed in the August 1, 1999 edition of the Anchorage Daily News, Lifestyles Section, reporter David Hunn focused on the experiences of Monolithic Dome builders and occupants. This excerpt recounts the recent experience of just two Alaskans Hunn interviewed:
Ed and Nikki Pearson weren't motivated to buy their 24-foot dome as disaster protection. They're not predicting earthquakes, nor do they seem to worry about fires more than anyone else.
But they watched a tree fall on their dome. A big spruce, about a foot and a half in diameter. Ed Pearson said his heart leapt out of his chest. Nikki Pearson thought, "There goes the house." The tree didn't scratch the dome. Didn't dent it. No cracks. Nothing.

Monolithic Dome Campgrounds After attending our Spring 1998 Workshop and completing his research, Regan Bendt of Horicon, Wisconsin has started the groundwork for a privately owned campground. Situated in a semi-wooded area, the campground will have facilities for campers in tents, pop-ups and motor homes. It will also sport several Monolithic Domes built into a drumlin-an elongate, oval hill. According to Bendt, three of the domes, each with a diameter of 32 feet will be private residences, two 40-foot diameter domes will be used for underground gardening, a 24-foot dome will provide storage, and a huge dome measuring 130' x 40' will garage the campground's vehicles.
Dave Copeland has also started the building of a Monolithic Dome campground, between Talihina and McAlester, Oklahoma. Dave's first structure will be the campground kitchen-a 40' Monolithic Dome.

Cloud Hidden"the Kasliks" Caterpillar Monolithic Dome Home Jim and Melanie Kaslik began excavation for their Monolithic Dome Home, nestled within North Carolina's beautiful Appalachians, in April 1998. It's a 85'x47' caterpillar design with six segments. The home will provide 5200 square-feet of heated living space, 2000 square feet of unheated living space, plus an elevated, two-level 1000 square-foot stamped concrete porch.
The Kasliks call it Cloud Hidden because they are in an area of frequent morning valley fogs that hide the dome and give them the feeling of living on a cloud-or, as Jim puts it, "our own private piece of heaven." After eighteen months of work, the dome shell is done and the Kasliks are now framing the walls, building the fireplace, preparing the openings for stucco, and running the plumbing and electrical. They expect to take residency in early 2000.

Fall Workshops MDI hosted 52 workshop attendees during the fall workshops. Many motivating factors bring people to the Monolithic Dome Builders Workshop. Many come to learn how to build their own dome homes, while some attend with hopes of starting a commercial dome building business. Others come just for fun.
The September attendees participated in the construction of MDI's first Orion Monolithic Dome Robert Foster of Elma, Washington said, "I'm in my fifth year of building 'stick' houses. After only 2 days here, it is clear to me that my future is building domes. It is my opinion that you folks are pioneering the future of housing."
Most attendees leave the workshop with a commitment to further the development and awareness of the Monolithic Dome. Jeff McBride of Jacksonville, Florida felt that way, "It is my duty to assure the safety and security of my family and the dome allows me to do that. I'm in a tornado, hurricane, flood and wildfire zone and I'm committed to the Monolithic Dome."
Overall, attendees agree that the knowledge and experienced gained is time and money well spent.

New Plans for Financing and Insurance of Monolithic Dome Churches Securing financing and/or insurance is now easier for churches that have or plan to build a Monolithic Dome facility. Ilex Consulting Company, Inc., a ten-year-old, Houston, Texas firm providing business, consulting, and strategic planning, recently announced two new programs. Bill Calhoun, business development manager, said "Under an agreement with American Investors Group & GuideOne Insurance, Ilex will be able to provide financing for Monolithic Dome church projects from $100,000 to $25,000,000. In addition, Ilex has negotiated lower fire and extended coverage insurance rates for churches that build Monolithic Domes." Calhoun said that all denominations can access the financing program, which is available throughout the country. Church affiliates, such as not-for-profit organizations, can also receive funding. Call (713) 218 8272 ext. 104 in the Houston area or toll-free 1-(877) 451 8272 ext. 104.

60' SkyShell in Pottsboro, TX

Sky Shell Design-in Texas A 60'-diameter Monolithic Dome, using architect Rick Crandall's Sky Shell pattern, was recently completed by Monolithic Constructors, Inc. for the residence of Margaret Lawson and Horst Litcke in Pottsboro, Texas. Their 2800 square feet of living space will have a flowing water fountain at its center, surrounded by kitchen, living and bedroom areas.

Autumn Leaf Bed and Breakfast in NE.

Visitors Flock to Monolithic Dome Bed and Breakfast All Kenny and Penny Hoback of Burwell, Nebraska did was announce the opening of their new, Monolithic Dome resort, called Autumn Leaf Bed and Breakfast,and the curious and the interested came in droves! On August 28 and 29, more than 900 people toured the complex, a 50-foot diameter dome that's the Hoback home and a 30-foot diameter dome with two bedrooms and accommodations for eight guests. "Some visitors actually had to wait for a tour, but not more than ten minutes, and they all loved the domes." For rate and availability information, call Autumn Leaf at (308) 346-4366.

200' Cement Storage

Holnam Cement Dome Technology is ahead of schedule for a large cement storage being built in Holly Hill, South Carolina for Holnam Cement. The 200' x 105' Monolithic Dome will provide 1000 ton capacity and utilize a Cambelt reclaim system. Cement will be fed through the headhouse. As this issue goes to press, the second set of steel is being placed. Dome Technology expects to complete this project by the end of 1999-two months ahead of schedule.

Krishna Temple Dome Technology recently completed a Monolithic Dome (24'x18') to top the Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple in Spanish Fork, Utah. Its construction included erecting a platform on which the dome could be built: Dome Technology's crew anchored ten 3'x4'columns into the ground with cement and welded a steel-ring beam to the top of the columns. They then bolted the Airform to the steel-ring beam, skirted around the columns with fabric, and inflated the Airform. To enter and exit the inflated Airform, workers used an airlock to an underground tunnel that ducked below the skirted columns. Dome Technology will use cables and a 350-ton Drott Crane to lift the 46,000-pound Monolithic Dome to the top of the 40-foot high, cinder block temple.

Thieman Residence Dome Technology continues work on a three-dome complex, with 3179 square feet on its first floor and 2679 square feet on its second floor, for Dr. Kent Thieman of West Des Moines, Iowa. Dr. Thieman, who personally got involved in the construction process by coming to the site and working with the crew, had the concrete floors of this Monolithic Dome home stamped and stained.

Yoakam Residence According to Dome Technology, the company will soon begin work for Alice Yoakam in Austin, Nevada. They will build a 27'x13.5' residential Monolithic Dome and a 50'x18' shop dome with a large, rollup door.

The Farrell's Rockdome Wade and Bobbie Farrell of Wentzville, Missouri now have a name for their 58-foot diameter, Monolithic Dome home. They call it Rockdome for two reasons. "Because there's a lot of rock on the inside," Bobbie says, "and because we are Christians who want to build on the rock of Jesus." Work on Rockdome began last May. The Farrells hope to have it completed in December 1999.

120' Dome at Riverside Industrial Complex

DOMTEC International, LLC continues to demonstrate a strong commitment to the cement industry. They are near completion of a 102' tall "dome silo." This 120' diameter dome is for Riverside Industrial Complex in Bristol, PA. The demand for cement continues to exceed domestic production. The new 30,000 mt capacity dome expands the Silvi family's existing cement import terminal, allowing them to service their cement hungry clientele. DOMTEC International is also under contract to construct 3 more import cement storage domes on the east coast and are in negotiations to construct several other cement terminal domes around the world for both export and import.
Riverside Industrial Complex provides cement to it's sister company, Silvi Concrete Products, in addition to other cement users in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Riverside's bright yellow dome attracts a lot of attention. Some neighbors say it looks like a perpetual sunrise, as the dome peaks out over the surrounding trees. The client chose the yellow color to match his fleet of ready-mix concrete trucks and bulk cement trailers.
The Riverside dome will be fed pneumatically by the terminal's existing cement receiving equipment. The reclaim system will be accomplished via a fluidized floor system provided by Van Aalst bulk handling out of Holland. The cement will be conveyed by an air lift into the existing truck load out facilities.
Another cement storage dome under contract to DOMTEC will also have a fluidized floor system, but provided by Alesa Alusuisse of Canada. The other two facilities will utilize the mechanical Cambelt system. While there are merits to both pneumatic and mechanical systems, it appears the Cambelt system continues to be preferred by a majority of cement handlers.
DOMTEC International has also completed two fertilizer storage domes in the Ukraine. Other DOMTEC International projects include a 205' diameter school in Arizona and a 165' diameter gypsum storage currently under construction for an Eastern USA power company.

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