Glow-Up on I-35E: The Reinvention of a Texas Icon
Bruco, with its updated exterior, is clean and refreshed while staying true to its original character. A familiar landmark with a new face.
Monolithic’s caterpillar-shaped Airform and Fabric Structures manufacturing plant recently underwent a facelift. Known as Bruco, the Texas Italian Caterpillar, the well-known landmark Monolithic Dome has new steel cladding, a fresh set of boots, and a cheerful new painted face.
Bruco has always been more than a building. From the beginning, it was meant to be noticed. Sitting right off Interstate 35E in Italy, Texas, it was built to stand out. My father, David B. South, had the idea to build the caterpillar-shaped Monolithic Dome in 1994, and despite some pushback, he went with it. Over the years, Bruco has won over its detractors and become not only a valuable resource but an avatar or mascot for Monolithic.
When David B. South announced he was going to build a caterpillar-shaped Monolithic Dome for his new manufacturing plant, some of his family and associates begged him not to. He laughed and did it anyway, even having the temerity to paint cowboy boots along the freeway side and install rebar-reinforced antennae above a smiling face.
The original Airform for Bruco was constructed from surplus fabric forms stored for years in 50-gallon drums—the material was not as strong or uniform as the material we normally use for dome construction. Consequently, the caterpillar required coating just a few years after being built. David decided to have it clad in multicolored steel leftover from other projects. It was a practical solution that gave Bruco its early, distinctive look.
When deciding how to update the caterpillar, we knew we had to redo its boots and face, not just replace shingles. Dave South, my brother and VP of Monolithic, suggested we ask our kids for help designing and painting Bruco’s new boots and eyes. Dave’s daughter, Aubrey and my daughters, Catie and Evie, worked for many hours creating Bruco’s new look. After approving the new designs, we marked out the spacing, projected each boot onto the building, and my daughters carefully painted on the designs.
We spent a lot of time painting, detailing, and working through each boot. No two are exactly the same. Some reflect Texas, others lean more toward spaghetti westerns (the Texas Italian Caterpillar’s favorite genre), but together they all reflect Bruco’s spirit. The ramblin’ caterpillar, always hard at work.
My sister Rebecca said, “Bruco embodies many aspects of Dad’s personality—its utilitarian nature, its strength and steadfastness, its self-effacing bravado and its winking swagger—all reflections of David B. South, who never took off his cowboy boots.”
I agree with that and It feels good to see Bruco get the glow-up it deserved after 30+ years. May the next 30 years be as productive and fun as the last.
“The Caterpillar,” as it’s known by the people who work there, sits parallel to the freeway at the western edge of Monolithic Dome Research Park. It houses Monolithic’s 14,000 square foot manufacturing plant where we build Airforms and other fabric structures.
[Left] The painted boots are nearly complete. [Center] A skid steer held the projector at the correct angle while the artwork was traced onto the dome. [Right] Evie South adds the final details to one of the painted boots.
The artists often worked late into the night during the renovation.
Additional Views of Bruco
These images show Bruco beyond the finished boots, including exterior views, lighting, artwork details, and the surrounding work areas that make up the Research Park.
[Left] Evie and Catie spent dozens of hot summer hours painting the boots they and their cousin, Aubrey, designed. [Center] The crew installs new, white metal shingles. [Right] Crews attach shingles to steel bands previously bolted to the dome and tied down to the footings.
[Left] Color-changing exterior lights wash the dome in different tones. The system allows Bruco to be lit for holidays or special occasions. [Center] The trench for the new LED lighting system was dug along the length of the caterpillar on the freeway-facing side. [Right] One of Bruco’s original boots was uncovered during the removal of the multicolored shingles.
[Left] A skid steer was used to support the projection system during the artwork process. [Center] Steel crews return to finish installing shingles on the west-facing side of the dome. [Right] More proof of the South girls’ dedication to the job.
Tracing the projected design allowed for more detailed artwork.
Completed Boots
Each completed boot adds its own personality to Bruco’s exterior. Viewed together, they form a visual story that reflects the care taken to refresh the dome.
[Left] Kicking things off, the first boot features a red, white, and blue design. [Right] For the rodeo fans, a classic cowboy boot.
[Left] Texas pride shines through on this Lone Star boot. [Right] A mauve boot in a classic western design.
[Left] A finished boot painted in blue and brown tones with studs and a leaf-style pattern. [Right] Green tones with a geometric pattern set this boot apart.
[Left] This single-sunflower boot suits the caterpillar well. Sunflowers grow wild here. [Center] A finished boot featuring a butterfly detail. Every year, hundreds of baby butterflies flutter in the grasses of the Research Park. [Right] A bright blue boot adorned with a filigree pattern.
[Left] Red roses and vines feel like a nod to Tejano culture, which is vibrant and local. [Right] Texas bluebonnets adorn a baby blue boot. The painted flower is a small detail that ties Bruco unmistakably to Texas and the place it calls home.
The new boots were designed and painted by the daughters of Mike South and Dave South. A fitting tribute to the girls’ grandfather, David B. South, and his love of Texas, cowboy boots, Monolithic Domes, and Bruco, the Texas Italian Caterpillar.