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Monolithic Dome Institute

Monolithic Dome News & Stories

Updated 18 Nov 2023 Home»
Johnson Creek School in Johnson Creek, Wisconsin.

The Monolithic Dome Institute News & Stories section with news stories, blog posts, curated content, and feature stories about the world of Monolithic Domes, thin shell structures, and curved architecture.

Feature Stories | Dome News | Think Round | In The Media | For Sale

Throwback: Houston Area Church Is a Dome of Many Firsts

Flying over the job site reveals the scope of work.
6 Photos 6
By Dave South Posted 1 Jul 2021 Dome News»

Today’s throwback story is from 1984 with a dome of firsts—the Maranatha Church—the first Monolithic Dome over 200-feet diameter, the first dome proving energy savings enough to pay for the building, and the first high capacity auditorium with seating for over 4,000. … read more

The South’s Say Goodbye to the South Sawmill Lodge

Aerial view of South Sawmill Lodge in Island Park, Idaho.
16 Photos 16
By Dave South Posted 16 Jun 2021 Features»

It’s time to say goodbye to the South Sawmill Lodge. Randy South’s family of South Industries started the 90-foot diameter dome in 2009 on the old family homestead in Island Park, Idaho. Over the next four years, the family squeezed in time to finish the dome which became a lodge and reunion center rented out to dozens of families over the years. The lodge sold this spring. … read more

The Easy Way to Calculate a Dry Bulk Storage Dome

Sketch of the medium dome design template.
6 Photos 6
By Dave South Posted 15 Jun 2021 Think Round»

How big is a Monolithic Dome that stores 10,000 tons of ammonium nitrate? Or 750,000 bushels of corn? Or 34,000 metric tonnes of gypsum? These are straightforward questions without quick answers—until now. … read more

Throwback: Breckon Sports Center at Park University’s underground school

Nighttime at Breckon Sports Center.
By Dave South Posted 11 Jun 2021 Dome News»

Today’s throwback is the story of an innovative school with an equally innovative campus—the largest underground educational campus in the world. When the school needed a new gymnasium they sought a solution as innovative as building underground—the Monolithic Dome. … read more

The Dome Builder Workshops are Back!

Monolithic Dome Builders Workshop Alumni.
By Dave South Posted 3 Jun 2021 Dome News»

It’s back! After a year and a half hiatus, the Monolithic Dome Builders Workshop resumes again in September 2021. Coronavirus restrictions are lifting. Travel is returning. We can finally gather to teach, discuss, and build another Monolithic Dome. … read more

A Stunning Tour of the Red Rock Chavez Ranch Road Dome Home [SOLD]

Red Rock Coated Monolithic Dome Home.
18 Photos 18
By Dave South Posted 20 Apr 2021 For Sale»

Stunning is the only word for it. It is a massive, red-rock coated Monolithic Dome nestled among the red landscape of Sedona, Arizona. The house contains 10 bedrooms, 7 bathrooms, a fitness room, a theater, a beautiful kitchen, and so much more. … read more

Over the Edge with Vertical Ellipsoids

Sketch of concepts used in the vertical ellipsoid dome calculator.
By Dave South Posted 18 Mar 2021 Think Round»

Inflatable shapes are the basic components of Monolithic Dome design. If it inflates, it can be constructed…probably. There are two primary shapes that dominate dome design—the sphere and half-ellipsoid. However, these are not the whole design palette. Sometimes we need to go beyond the basics. or in this case, beyond half of the ellipsoid. … read more

Rare Winter Storm Wreaks Havoc in Texas

The Callisto.
5 Photos 5
By Mike South Posted 23 Feb 2021 Think Round»

Monolithic Domes are amazing. The insulation, coupled with the concrete’s thermal mass, creates an atmosphere that is hard to describe. Simply put, it feels the same today as it does in the middle of summer. If you set the thermostat at 70 (21°C), it just stays there. During the two-degree, 24 hour period, my heater ran for a total of 9 hours. This is a small heater, with only 30,000 BTUs. Most homes the size of mine have 100,000 BTU heaters, but even my neighbors with electricity struggled to stay warm with heaters running nearly 24/7. … read more

Refactoring the Ellipsoid Calculator

Ellipsoid dome conceptual sketch.
By Dave South Posted 28 Jan 2021 Think Round»

Circles and spheres are easy to measure. Calculating a spherical dome’s floor area, surface area, perimeter, and volume are straightforward mathematical formulas. When I wrote the new Spherical Dome Calculator, the challenge was the scaled drawing, not the computed values. Ellipsoids—on the other hand—are hard. … read more

WSAW-TV Covers Gymnasium Dome Inflation in Spencer, Wisconsin

Partially inflated Airform membrane for Spencer gym.
By Dave South Posted 7 Jan 2021 In The Media»

“It’s a great day to be a Spencer Rocket,” said district administrator Mike Endreas at the Spencer Public Schools gymnasium dome inflation. District officials turned on the fans to inflate the 107-foot diameter dome on Saturday, January 2. WSAW-TV was on hand to capture the event. … read more

TBT: Design Inspiration in a Frozen Hotel

"White Santorini" art suite.
12 Photos 12
By Dave South Posted 17 Dec 2020 Think Round»

In today’s Throwback Thursday we revisit the Ice Hotel—200 km north of the Arctic Circle in Sweden. This unique hotel is built and rebuilt every winter using ice, snow, and a lot of creativity. It’s a masterpiece of design and is an inspiration for curved architectural elements that could be built—permanently—in a Monolithic Dome. … read more

Obituary: David Barney South, 1939-2020

David and dome map.
6 Photos 6
By Dave South Posted 3 Nov 2020 Dome News»

We are sad to announce the passing of David Barney South Sr.—husband, father, entrepreneur, and inventor. David was married to the late Judy Lynne South (née Bates), and they raised nine children together. He co-invented the Monolithic Dome with his brothers, and they built a new construction industry. … read more

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© 1996–2023 Monolithic Dome Institute LLC