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Spring,
2001
Reprinted from the Monolithic
Dome Roundup, Spring 2001 Issue
[
DomeTalk Radio | Presenting David B.
South | Dome Technology Inc.
Monolithic Construction Management | Global
Dome Homes
The Johnson Ranch | Dome Amazement
| Lofty Dome
Monolithic Dome Builders Association | Canadian
EcoShell
Maxim Development | DOMTEC International
]
MDI President David B. South took to the airways with his very own radio show: DomeTalk, KFNX1100-AM, Phoenix, Arizona. The show, produced by North American Broadcasting Company Inc., broadcasts live with feature guests every Thursday, 7 to 8 a.m.MST through April 12, 2001 and is available live on www.renaissanceradio.com. Guest list includes MDI Architect Rick Crandall; Randy and Barry South, Dome Technology Inc; dome coating expert Jerry Whitaker, UCSC; solar energy expert James Proffit; Civil Engineering Professor Dr. Arnold Wilson. During the broadcast, listeners can phone in questions by calling tollfree (866) 277-5369 or if in Phoenix, call (602) 277-KFNX or e-mail dometalk@monolithic.com. For sponsorship or guest speaking information contact Anne DeMoss at MDI.
As David's public speaking popularity increases, so do his speaking engagements. His current bookings include:
Jan. 26, SPFA (Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance), Westin Galleria, Houston, Texas - David will encourage foam applicators to use foam when insulating all types of buildings and homes. He says, "I don"t want the pink panther to win!"
Feb. 1, "Environmental Issues," Pearland High School, Pearland, Texas;
Mar. 8, "Structural Analysis," University of New Mexico;
April 4, Civil Engineering Dept., Texas A&M, College Station, Texas.
If interested in booking David as a guest speaker please contact Anne DeMoss at MDI.
Dome Technology Inc. of Idaho Falls, ID
Work on a model underground home at Rustler's Hideout Subdivision in Menan, Idaho is progressing well. The dome's footing has been poured and the Airform ordered for the 60-foot-diameter home and a 50-foot-diameter garage. Although dirt will cover both domes, windows across the front of the dome home will provide a spectacular view. This project should help develop a market for underground homes.
Other projects include: Italy High School's multipurpose dome; St. Lawrence Cement, New York - Bulk storage facility, 108' diameter with its hemisphere on a stem wall; Kosmos Cement Plant, Kosmosdale, Kentucky - Cement storage facility in little town near Louisville; National Gypsum, Apollo Beach, Florida - Gypsum storage facility, 200' diameter, near Tampa; ABB Environmental, Homer City, Pennsylvania - Gypsum storage facility, nestled close to an electric plant; Monolithic Dome Dream Home with presidential style in Reno, Nevada.
Monolithic Construction Management
Alden Porter, Director of Construction Management has two current projects. They are the school facility in Texhoma, Oklahoma (Roundup, Winter 2000, p. 22) and the multipurpose dome in Italy, Texas (Roundup, Winter 2000, p. 29). Alden reports that both shells for Texhoma are completed and electrical and plumbing has begun. At Italy High School, foundation work has begun and contracts for the electrical, the heating/air conditioning, painting and structural steel have been awarded.
Joe Gora reports that Global Dome Homes has completed its first two Monolithic Dome Projects: a 42' x 18' dome home dubbed Free Will and a 24-foot-diameter garage/storage structure. Free Will, built to attract Atlanta's young, fast-paced population, has more than 1500 square feet of living space with a central kitchen under a 4' round skylight. Activities at its pedestaled cooking island can be easily seen and enjoyed from virtually any spot within the dome's vast, open entertainment and dining area. The dome's ceilingless bedroom opens onto a patio shaded by Atlanta's famous forest trees. Joe plans to use both the dome home and garage facility as models for Red Orchard, a 23-acre, Monolithic Dome development with custom homes, a restaurant, boat docks and ramps, an archery range, stable, trails and a man-made lake (www.globaldomehomes.com).
Monolithic Constructors Inc. is completing a 38-foot-diameter dome at the Johnson Ranch in Milford, Texas. Owners Steven, Jamie, Diane and Andy Johnson say they will use the dome to accommodate guests, and as a family entertainment center, ranch office and tornado shelter.
A 50' x 25' dome home, with its 1150-square-foot great room and kitchen, large master bedroom and bath, guest bedroom, loft and laundry room is amazing visitors, both young and old, in Helena, Ohio. Owners Ray and Pinky Sheets say they get lots of dome-related questions from both adults and children, but the kids ask the really good ones. The Sheets plan to use a solar generator and no furnace; despite the fact they live in northwest Ohio that gets subzero temperatures. They say, "We put wood in our little wood burner before we go to work in the morning. When we get home at night it's nice and warm in here. We haven't had to use the in-floor heat at all yet." Dan Sutterfield of Sutterfield Services LLC, Newburg, Missouri did their spraying.
Lofty Dome in Bridgeport, Texas
Mark and Nancy Hooper continue working on a 46-foot-diameter Monolithic Dome, half of which is the loft overlooking the living area. Their dome home, built on a 3.5-foot stemwall, includes a loft bedroom, bath and living area, as well as an additional bedroom, bath, kitchen, closet and utility room downstairs.
Monolithic Dome Builders Association
MDBA's first official meeting will be held during our 7th Annual Monolithic Dome Conference, February 22-24, Ramada Plaza Hotel, Ft. Worth, Texas. For MDBA membership information, visit www.monolithic.com/mdba; or call MDBA Secretary Anne DeMoss (972) 483-7423.
In 1998, Terry Murphy, owner of Murphy Cattle Company, Alberta, Canada spotted a large Monolithic Dome potato storage on the Idaho/Canada border. He asked about it and was referred to MDI. After studying literature and learning the EcoShell building process, he and friend Troy Gill constructed a 40-foot, partially earth-bermed EcoShell for a company workshop. He utilizes the dome's clear span interior for large equipment. Since EcoShells are uninsulated structures, Terry takes advantage of passive annual heat storage to heat and cool his workshop dome.
Chief Operations Officer Jim Van Nest reports that Maxim Development of San Antonio, Texas has three Monolithic Dome projects in various stages of construction or planning: Church On The Rock; a 132-foot-diameter Cheer Dome for the nationally recognized cheerleading team Alamo Renegades; and a 40-foot-diameter hospitality dome.
This spring, Church On The Rock, a 125-foot-diameter Monolithic Dome with seating for 1000, will celebrate its grand opening. Office Manager Norma Rae said, "God's doing an awesome work in our church. We are very excited about moving into the new building. It has definitely struck interest in the community. We have had both television and newspaper coverage." Ten cantera spiral columns, imported from Mexico, will grace the church's entryway with a Spanish flare befitting San Antonio.
Current projects at DOMTEC International of Idaho Falls, Idaho include: a 206' x 103', 75,000-ton capacity clinker storage facility in Arkansas for Ash Grove Cement through Penta Industrial Corp; a 34.5 meter x 18.25 meter, 15,000-metric-tonne capacity cement storage for CEMEX at Playa del Carmen (south of Cancun), Q.R., Mexico.
Recently completed projects include: a 200' x 104', 100,000-ton capacity cement storage dome for Southdown at their Wampum, Pennsylvania plant; an 80' x 40', 3,500-ton capacity fertilizer storage in California's San Joaquin Valley for Verdegaal Brothers; two 40,000 metric tonne capacity cement storage domes for Blue Circle Cement at Kinder Morgan Terminals' Charleston, South Carolina facility. This super cement terminal is being heralded as "The New Global Standard" by which cement terminals around the world will be measured for years to come. A news release and complete write up about the project was featured in the October 2000 issue of World Cement, a Palladian publication.
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