Is that a church that just landed?
Find out what the Pantheon of Rome and an increasing number of churches have in common
December 2, 2003
By Ken Dean
*Reprinted with permission of Church Executive Magazine
What is a Monolithic Dome?
A Monolithic Dome is an insulated, concrete thin-shell structure that is created by using an inflated air-form skin that is sprayed on the inside with three inches of polyurethane and completed with rebar and sprayed on concrete. This simple construction can be completed in a timely fashion, even in adverse weather conditions. Monolithic Domes are very "green" buildings, utilizing modest amounts of the world's resources in the construction and even smaller amounts for heating, cooling and maintenance. The construction process is a high-tech adaptation of a tried-and-tested building method known as concrete thin shells. The Pantheon in Rome is the oldest prototype of a Monolithic Dome. Built in 126 A.D. with a half-sphere diameter of 143 feet on a 70-foot-high stem wall, it has the longest single span constructed before the 19th century. But it was Buckminster Fuller's vision that inspired David B. South. In 1975, South built his first Monolithic Dome in Idaho and opened the Monolithic Dome Institute in 1991 in Italy, TX. Today there are hundreds of schools, athletic facilities, municipal buildings, storage facilities, homes and churches constructed after the Monolithic Dome model.
Appropriate for church construction
A Domed worship facility reminds congregants of the expanse of heaven, and Domes aren't at all uncommon in religious buildings. Some of the most notable examples, in addition to the Pantheon in Rome, include St. Paul's Cathedral in London, the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, St. Basil's Cathedral in Moscow and Haggia Sofia in Istanbul. Some of these required decades to build, but today's technology allows for similar construction in much shorter time.
Melinda South, editor of Domes and Uses, says, "Spacious and spectacular Monolithic Dome churches provide near-absolute protection from fire, hurricanes, tornadoes and earthquakes the Monolithic Dome is free span, without internal columns for support. Every seat in the congregation has a perfect view."
That's certainly true at Faith Chapel Christian Center in Birmingham, AL. In 2002, construction was completed on an 87,000-square-foot, 3,200-seat building that includes a grand entrance hall, classrooms, offices and a state-of-the-art sound and acoustic system required for the church's television ministry. At a construction cost of $11.7 million, Faith Chapel is the largest Monolithic Dome built to date. "We wanted a Monolithic Dome for three reasons," says Debra Blaylock, the church's administrator. The first reason, she says, is safety. "We get tornadoes." The second reason, she says, is the structure's cost is reasonable and that it is quick to build. The third reason is energy efficiency and the resulting savings.
At Maranatha Church in Mont Belvieu, TX, the combined heating and cooling costs for a 34,000-square-foot worship center that comfortably seats 4,000 people, total only about $1,500 per month. Pastor Ronnie Trice says their conservative savings estimate is about $60,000 per year. In addition to the energy savings, Trice says he is pleased with the "unobstructed view [in the sanctuary] and the excellent acoustics."
At Living Word Bible Church in Mesa, AZ, three Domes were completed in July 2001 at a total cost of $7.5 million. The first Dome is a 2,000-seat sanctuary, in which religious services are televised and concerts, theatrical productions, conferences and conventions are held. The second Dome holds classrooms, a fellowship hall, a 100-seat combination café and dinner theater, and a gymnasium. The third Dome, which has a children's theme, is one of the primary reasons why people try out the church and actually stay, says John Hrimnak, vice president of marketing. "When kids are little, it's really all about them, and much of that philosophy applies to selecting a church."
City Bible Church in Portland, OR, has had two Monolithic Domes since 1991, and the structures have created a lot of curiosity. "We're up on a butte," says Art Johansen, facility administrator. "People flying in see us as they're coming into the airport and people driving see us from the freeway. There's an instant recognition of the Domes, but many people don't know what we are. So they come and find out."
The promise of Domes
Monolithic Domes as churches are versatile, cost effective, aesthetically pleasing and comfortable. They're also virtually permanent and strong against some of nature's harshest elements. Dr. Arnold Wilson, a retired civil engineering professor from Brigham Young University and a leading engineer in thin-shell concrete construction, says, "Most reinforced concrete Monolithic Domes are easily designed to withstand earthquakes, hurricanes and even the strongest tornadoes and remain standing in the same location."
Monolithic Domes, Dr. Wilson adds, is the most disaster-resistant building that can be built at a reasonable price without going underground or into a mountain. He says a concrete Dome resists damage not only from extremely high winds, but also from seismic activity and nuclear blasts.
Here are some things to remember about Monolithic Domes:
- They provide almost absolute protection from tornadoes and hurricanes.
- They are invulnerable to fire, mold, mildew and termites, and resist damage from nuclear blasts.
- Generally, the construction cost of a Monolithic Dome is less than that of a conventional structure of similar size.
- The polyurethane foam insulation of Monolithic Domes allows for dramatic energy savings, as well as less equipment maintenance, repair and replacement. The Department of Energy maintains an Energy Star program that awards structures built to conserve energy with an E-Star rating. Monolithic Domes have this rating.
- Monolithic Domes are considered "green buildings" because they use very few of the earth's resources and are environmentally friendly.
- The national Uniform Building Code categorizes structures based on their ability to resist fire. Types I and II are built primarily of noncombustible materials such as concrete, steel, metal and masonry, and are the most fire-resistant. Domes are classified as Type II or better.
- Once the airform is inflated, most of the Dome's construction takes place inside the structure, unaffected by weather or daylight. Work can continue, in most cases, in inclement weather and at night; hence, costly delays can be avoided.
- The life of Monolithic Domes is measured in centuries. Over the years as a church's needs change, remodeling may be needed, but not replacement.
Ken Dean is a managing principal with Rowland Companies, which specializes in building churches. Rowland Companies is a founding member of the Cornerstone Alliance, which provides research and education to churches on construction-related issues and trends.
Download:
Download this full packet of printed material regarding Monolithic Dome Churches. This information can be passed around to your congregation and/or church administrators.
Related Links:
- How to Buy a Church
- Monolithic Dome Church Pricing
- Faith Chapel Christian Center Breaks Ground: Six new domes to benefit congregation and community
- Risky Business: Hiring an Architect
- Free Evaluation for Church Facility
- Catching the Vision-- New Dome Churches Nationwide
- Is that a church that just landed?
- MDI's Commercial Feasibility Studies: Schools, Churches, Gymnasiums, Office Complexes, Storages and more...
- Downloadable Information Pak (PDF)
- Rowland Companies
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