Bruco the Caterpillar: Monolithic’s Fabric Structures Manufacturing Plant
Bruco, the caterpillar-shaped Monolithic Dome, is Monolithic’s manufacturing facility for fabric structures, and a Texas landmark.
Bruco, the Texas Italian Caterpillar, houses Monolithic’s Airform and fabric structures manufacturing facility. Designed by David B. South and Larry Byrne and engineered by Dr. Arnold Wilson, Bruco crawls alongside the northbound lanes of I-35E, 45 miles south of Dallas in Italy, Texas. According to Texas Highways, “the friendly structure has made drivers smile for almost 30 years.”
“The Caterpillar” (as it is referred to by everyone at the research park) is a total length of 250 feet (76 m). The 14,000-square-foot (1300 m2) Monolithic Dome consists of seven seamlessly connected domes—each 60 feet in diameter (18 m) and 30 feet tall (9 m). The floor space is free-span, with no pillars or supports to work around.
Before the construction of the caterpillar, Monolithic’s Airform manufacturing was housed in a building referred to as “the metal tent.” It would get too hot in the summer and extremely cold in the winter. Bruco was a welcome upgrade. The huge space was easily cooled with just one 5-ton HVAC unit, which lasted for 25 years. It was recently replaced with two 3-ton mini-splits. The Dome stays warm enough in winter without heat. Heating and cooling costs for the plant are very affordable, even during the hot Texas summers.
Built with leftover Airforms, the exterior vapor barrier was not optimal at the time of construction in 1994. As a result, the dome needed metal cladding in 2001. Multi-colored metal shingles were fastened together and to the dome using mechanical fasteners. Metal cladding is especially useful for the dome without an Airform or for covering a dome with Airform difficulties.
In late 2025, Bruco underwent another exterior renovation, including new shingles and boots.
The caterpillar-shaped fabric structures manufacturing plant is 250 feet long and 60 feet in diameter. Even in the Texas heat, it only needs six tons of air conditioning, served by two mini-split systems.
In the Media
- Roadside Oddity: Bruco the Caterpillar by Texas Highways Posted August 22, 2024
- This 250-foot Caterpillar in Texas is a Must-See when Traveling the state by KFYO Posted April 24, 2024
- The Monolithic Domes of Italy by The Texas Bucket List Posted April 13, 2020
- Texas Connects Us: Dome Homes by NBC DFW Posted February 11, 2016
- Dome Houses by D Magazine Posted October 3, 2006
- Italy, Texas: World’s Largest Caterpillar by Roadside America, First Post July 3, 1999