Monolithic Dome News &amp; Stories

At Home in ‘Sweet Dome Alabama’

Sweet Dome Alabama dome home near New Hope, Alabama.

By Freda Parker Posted 23 Aug 2011

Back when their children were just kids and Beverly and Kenneth Garcia took family vacations, they discovered beautiful New Hope, Alabama. “We were then living in Mississippi, but we fell in love with the New Hope area,” Bev said. “It’s gorgeous up here - the mountains and the lake and we like to fly fish.” Then and there Ken and Bev decided that when they retired, they would relocate to New Hope. … read more

Avalon Superintendent Recounts Blessings in Tornado Aftermath

The old gym roof damage next to the new dome gym without damage.

By David Del Bosque Posted 3 Jun 2011

April’s tornadoes, specifically the one that rumbled through Avalon, served as a reminder of how precious and dear our children, school and community are to all of us. While we feared and marveled at nature’s fury, we counted our blessings that no one individual was harmed. … read more

Avalon Dome Provides Safe Haven During Tornadoes

WFAA news 8 van parked outside Monolithic Dome gym.

By Carol Cirulli Lanham Posted 28 Apr 2011

When the Avalon Independent School District in Texas needed a new multipurpose building, Superintendent David Del Bosque had safety at top of his mind. Since the nearby Italy school district had just completed a Monolithic Dome gymnasium center of its own, the decision was easy. “I personally was concerned about safety for students: the stability of the building in case of a storm,” Del Bosque said, adding that when he saw Italy’s dome, he knew that it was “the safest structure anywhere.” … read more

Xanadu Island Resort Earns a Green Globe

By Carol Cirulli Lanham Posted 4 May 2010

The Xanadu Resort in Belize was the first Monolithic Dome resort in Central America and the Caribbean when it opened in 1998. Now it can lay claim to another first. The property recently became the first Green Globe Certified Island Resort in the town of Ambergis Caye, according to The San Pedro Sun. … read more

Mile Hi Church and Its ‘Work of Heart!’

By Freda Parker Posted 16 Feb 2009

“We’ve built a work of heart!” On its website that’s how Mile Hi Church in Lakewood, Colorado talks about its new sanctuary—a huge Monolithic Dome that called for an Airform of over 55,000 square feet. Opened in April 2008, the dome has a diameter of 233 feet, a height of 63 feet, a seating capacity of 1500, and a balcony that will eventually accommodate 600 more. … read more

Luxury Monolithic Dome Home

By Freda Parker Posted 10 Nov 2008

A rare and exceptional Monolithic Dome home sits on nearly an acre of land, close to Cherry Creek State Park in Centennial, Colorado. Nearly 50 mature trees shade the dome and provide privacy. Designed for energy-efficiency and durability by Chris Barnes, a former aeronautical engineer who worked with Howard Hughes, the dome was built in 1982. … read more

Hurricane Ivan and the Magenheimer’s Search

By Freda Parker Posted 27 Feb 2006

Bill Magenheimer’s search for a better home after Hurricane Ivan destroyed his home led to building a Monolithic Dome home on a Florida beach. … read more

Church Members Call Hurricane Rita ‘eerie’

Satellite image of Hurricane Rita over the Gulf of Mexico.

By Freda Parker Posted 25 Sep 2005

As millions of people attempted to evacuate the Houston area, I-45 became completely clogged. Northbound traffic moved at speeds between one-half to one mile per hour. Because of this, about a dozen members of Maranatha decided to stay in their Monolithic Dome church during Hurricane Rita. … read more

New Monolithic Dome Multipurpose Center at Avalon

An orange ribbon across the front of the new Avalon Multipurpose Center.

By Freda Parker Posted 21 Nov 2002

While the population count of Avalon, Texas may be in doubt and small, its pride and interest in their school is not. Most recent proof of that is Avalon’s new Multipurpose Center, for its 250 students in pre-kindergarten to Grade 12. Designed by Monolithic Architect Rick Crandall and built with a 12’ stemwall, this Monolithic Dome measures 124’ x 25’ with a total height of 37 feet. … read more

Avalon High School Gymnasium Construction Photo Journal

By Kris Garrison Posted 7 Mar 2002

The construction process of the Avalon Multipurpose Center in Avalon, Texas. The Avalon ISD school administration broke ground on the new facility on December 19, 2001. The completed Monolithic Dome is 124-feet in diameter by 25-feet tall on a 12-foot stem wall. It features a full-size basketball court, four locker rooms, synthetic glass block foyer, restrooms, concessions, and seating for 720 spectators. … read more

The Gladiator Coliseum in Italy … Texas

By Freda Parker Posted 1 Mar 2002

Once the 2,000 residents of Italy, Texas, passed a $2 million bond for a multipurpose center, administrators began researching popular construction methods for school facilities. Superintendent Mike Clifton said, “Of course we were all familiar with the domes. We had a good overview. But we really had to see for ourselves, so we visited Thousand Oaks—a dome already operating—and we came away convinced.” … read more

The Pantheon: A Temple to All Gods

A panoramic image of the whole interior.

By Freda Parker Posted 21 Jun 2001

Michelangelo (1475–1564) looked at everything with an artist’s critical eye, and he was not easily impressed. But when Michelangelo first saw the Pantheon in the early 1500s, he proclaimed it of “angelic and not human design.” The Pantheon’s concrete dome inspired landmarks worldwide and is the spiritual ancestor to the modern Monolithic Dome. … read more

Keeping up with the Domeses