Monolithic.org - News

EF3 Tornado Strikes Beggs Middle School Tornado Shelter

2026-05-20T15:55:15-05:00

An EF3 tornado smashed through Beggs, Oklahoma, in early March. It uprooted trees, flipped trucks, lifted roofs, demolished buildings, and, sadly, killed two people. But for the dozens of residents sheltering in Monolithic Dome safe rooms, it was serene. (Continued…)

Students Came to Work at the 2026 Spring Monolithic Dome Builders Workshop

2026-05-20T15:50:07-05:00

Another workshop is complete, with 25 hard-working and attentive students from all over the US and even the UK. In five days, they completed an unusual addition to a Monolithic Dome Home. Heads up, Workshop prices are changing. (Continued…)

Beyond Domes: Monolithic’s Role in Modern Composting

2026-05-20T15:43:57-05:00

Monolithic manufactures a variety of fabric forms and architectural products. One example is odor-free compost covers used for industrial-sized composting systems. We have 15 years of experience in the industry and our compost covers handle repeated use without breaking down or losing performance. (Continued…)

Celebrating 50 Years of Monolithic Domes: A Retrospective in Pictures

2026-05-19T16:17:42-05:00

Celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Monolithic Dome by scrolling through this photo journal of favorite dome moments! This retrospective is a highlight reel, a rough timeline, and a Thank You for making the last 50 years so fantastic. (Continued…)

Glow-Up on I-35E: The Reinvention of a Texas Icon

2026-05-19T16:11:06-05:00

Bruco, the famous Texas-Italian caterpillar, recently underwent an exterior renovation, including new boots and a redesigned face by the granddaughters of David B. South, inventor of the Monolithic Dome and creator of the original structure. The 30-year-old manufacturing facility is a caterpillar-shaped Monolithic Dome and a popular part of the Monolithic Dome Research Park and Central Texas landscape. (Continued…)

Stronger Than Fire: Monolithic Dome Withstands a Devastating House Fire

2026-05-19T16:03:55-05:00

In the Fall of 2025, James Crisp and his family experienced the kind of catastrophe every homeowner fears. A fire broke out in their home of 14 years, destroying everything inside. What it did not destroy was the Monolithic Dome recently built next to it. (Continued…)

Happy Faces & Curved Spaces: 2025 Dome Tour Recap

2026-05-19T15:58:36-05:00

The 2025 Monolithic Dome Research Park Tour was fun and productive. People showed up smiling, curious, and ready to explore every corner of our commercial facilities and five dome homes located here. (Continued…)

Don’t Let the Cost of Coating Your Dome Catch You off Guard

2026-05-19T11:24:00-05:00

Monolithic Domes are tough, efficient, and built to last. But there’s one part of every dome that does need attention from time to time. If you ignore it, the fix can turn into an expensive problem. Let’s talk about dome roofs, how long they really last, and the point at which you need to step in and take care of maintenance. (Continued…)

“[So] They Won’t Be Scared”: Why the Kickapoo Childcare Center Chose a Monolithic Dome

2026-05-19T11:13:26-05:00

Tornadoes sweep through Oklahoma and Kansas every year, and people take cover as best they can in storm shelters and basements. At the Kickapoo Community Childcare Center, the staff saw the fear on the little faces of their students every time tornado warning sirens sounded, and they wanted to find a way to keep children safe and secure in all weather. Their solution was to build a Monolithic Dome. (Continued…)

Upcoming! The 2025 Annual Monolithic Dome Research Park Tour

2026-05-19T10:34:23-05:00

Thank you to everyone who attended the tour. The Monolithic Dome Research Park in Italy, Texas, is hosting a dome tour on October 18, 2025. The tour is free and open to the public. The Research Park features over 75 domes of all uses, shapes, and sizes—including several dome homes. Plus, visit the newly refinished Texas landmark—Bruco: The Texas Italian Caterpillar. (Continued…)

They Built Forty-Eight Domes in Texas and One Dream Dome in Tennessee

2026-05-19T10:28:25-05:00

After building a thriving 48-dome apartment community in Texas, Kevin McGuckin and Hannah Mallon turned to Tennessee to create a masterpiece to retire in. The Iron Mountain Dome—energy-efficient, rock-clad, and nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains—blends custom woodwork and handmade tiles with natural beauty. (Continued…)

Hail, Yes: Domes Are Tougher Than Storms

2026-05-06T16:34:34-05:00

Hail rarely harms a Monolithic Dome, but extreme storms can damage Airforms. This story follows four domes through violent hail, how they fared compared with conventional structures, and their repairs when needed. (Continued…)

For Sale: Custom Monolithic Dome Home on Wooded Mountaintop Retreat

2026-03-24T09:25:41-05:00

Cloudome, a Monolithic Dome home situated on a 24-acre wooded plot in Menlo, Georgia, is a once-in-a-lifetime property for sale. With an interior lovingly clad in wood harvested from the property, Cloudome is a great example of how Monolithic Dome construction adapts beautifully to a natural, rural setting while offering unmatched durability and comfort. (Continued…)

No Sweat: Managing Humidity in your Monolithic Dome Home

2026-03-24T09:21:22-05:00

Monolithic Domes are super-insulated, airtight structures that save money on heating and cooling. A byproduct of this excellent insulation and closed system can be a rise in CO2 and humidity. Luckily, these are problems easily fixed with the right design and air handling system tailored to fit the space. (Continued…)

Nine Days to Done: A Modern Monolithic Dome Storm Shelter with World War II Windows

2026-03-24T09:16:21-05:00

Looking for a durable, fast-build storm shelter for your RV park or property? In just nine days, we built a reinforced Monolithic Dome storm shelter for RV park owner Leslie Mezzabifera. Complete with a Tornado Tamer door and custom-installed ship porthole windows, this safe room offers long-term protection, emergency readiness, and year-round functionality. (Continued…)

A Collaborative Vision for Multifamily Monolithic Domes

2026-03-24T09:05:50-05:00

Building a single-family, Monolithic Dome dream home is out of reach for most people due to time, cost, zoning and other factors. In this story, Brian A. McLoughlin of Green Dome Living offers a solution—Silo-Style Monolithic Dome Apartment Buildings. (Continued…)

While FEMA Falters, Resilient Communities Rely on the Monolithic Dome

2025-06-10T18:08:56-05:00

Four tornado shelters in Central Ohio show how communities are investing in Monolithic Domes for long-term safety. FEMA helped fund most of them—though one town is still waiting. Whether or not FEMA continues to defray the costs of constructing tornado shelters, resilient towns have been choosing Monolithic Domes for decades. They cost the same as conventional structures but offer unmatched protection and performance. (Continued…)

Safety Starts at the Top: Anchor Points Make Dome Maintenance Easy

2025-06-10T18:02:31-05:00

DIY Photo Tutorial: Good maintenance of your Monolithic Dome involves cleaning and coating it every 5 to 10 years. These tasks can be done safely by installing one of our stainless steel Anchor Points, designed specifically for Monolithic Domes. This photo tutorial walks you through the steps involved in retrofitting your dome. (Continued…)

Building a New Monolithic Dome Home near Austin, Texas

2025-06-10T17:40:58-05:00

Construction Photo Journal! We recently built a 43-foot-diameter dome home with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a spacious kitchen, and a dedicated utility space in the Hill Country of Central Texas. We snapped some photos during construction for this story illustrating the steps involved in building a Monolithic Dome home. (Continued…)

To Simplify Dome Home Financing, We Need More Dome-Friendly Contractors

2025-06-10T17:32:38-05:00

One of the biggest hurdles in dome home construction is financing. Banks are much more willing to approve loans when a project follows a traditional package deal, meaning a general contractor, like Tri-Lakes Construction of Colorado, presents a proposal covering the entire build. This approach reassures lenders that the project will be completed as planned, unlike owner-managed projects, which carry more risk in the bank’s eyes. (Continued…)

Rebuilding, Learning, and Community at the Spring 2025 Monolithic Dome Builders Workshop

2025-06-10T17:26:11-05:00

Construction wraps on the final Monolithic Dome Builders Workshop in Dawson, Texas, with the completion of a much-needed laundromat. Almost 30 students attended the five-day course with hands-on and classroom instruction. The September Workshop will be in Italy, Texas. (Continued…)

Hurricane-Ready, Picture-Perfect: Explore This Florida Dome Home in Photos

2025-06-10T17:12:10-05:00

We love this new Monolithic Dome home in Florida so much, we hired a professional photographer to show it off. It has three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a den, and a loft. The open living area and kitchen make the space feel warm and welcoming. Outside, the house is tucked into the trees beside a tranquil pond, and the screened-in porch is ideal for taking in the view. (Continued…)

Tour of Bruco: Monolithic’s Fabric Architecture Manufacturing Plant

2025-04-29T18:44:43-05:00

Today’s video takes you inside Bruco—our manufacturing plant where we build every Monolithic Dome Airform and other fabric architecture projects. (Continued…)

A Solid Start: Florida’s Latest Orion-Style Monolithic Dome

2025-06-10T17:57:03-05:00

We’re back at it in Florida, putting up another Monolithic Dome—this time using an Orion-style design with a Transverse Airform inflated atop a segmented stemwall. (Continued…)

The Path to Ownership: A Comprehensive Guide to Planning and Building a Monolithic Dome Home

2025-06-10T17:47:48-05:00

Whether you’re just beginning to explore the possibilities or are ready to move forward, this guide walks you through the practical steps involved in turning your dream into a resilient, energy-efficient Monolithic Dome home. (Continued…)

Exploring the Creative Possibilities of Air-formed Construction

2025-04-10T13:06:06-05:00

One of the most exciting parts of our work is designing and inflating complex shapes and connectors with Airforms. These flexible, inflatable molds allow us to push the boundaries of architecture—opening up almost limitless possibilities in building design. Recently, we’ve had a blast bringing some truly creative projects to life. (Continued…)

Rick Crandall and the Monolithic Dome: A Story of Art, Architecture, and Purpose

2025-04-29T18:53:14-05:00

Rick Crandall, a pioneer of the Monolithic Dome industry, has designed hundreds of domes worldwide. Blending art and architecture, his work ranges from post-disaster housing in Indonesia to innovative schools and homes, all driven by a deep commitment to beauty, sustainability, and purposeful design. (Continued…)

Building on Faith: How a Three-Dome Campus Helps Living Word Bible Church Thrive

2025-03-21T13:14:56-05:00

Drs. Tom and Maureen Anderson built Living Word Bible Church with three Monolithic Domes 30 years ago, turning a bold vision into a thriving, 15,000-member community. Their faith and innovation made it an iconic landmark in Mesa, Arizona. (Continued…)

Construction Photo Journal of a Three-Bedroom Dome Home in Florida

2025-04-10T13:15:57-05:00

Our crew arrived in Florida on December 5, 2024 to start construction on a new three bedroom Monolithic Dome home. This photo journal has images of each step of the construction. (Continued…)

Beyond Repair: How ReCover by Monolithic Can Help You Restore Your Domes and Recover Your Investments

2025-03-21T13:10:09-05:00

Monolithic has teamed up with Duro-Last Roofing to create a new method for renovating Monolithic Domes. ReCover by Monolithic replaces deteriorating or damaged roofing membranes and restores your investment. When the River Bend Ag domes needed renovation, they received beautiful results with a ReCover by Monolithic facelift. (Continued…)

Pushing the Limits: Airform Seam Strength and Concrete Culverts

2025-03-03T12:04:47-06:00

Last year, we were asked to help build some forms for a precast culvert system. We were excited to be part of that project, but you have higher pressure requirements in a precast system. These higher requirements forced the question, how much pressure can these forms take? (Continued…)

Wildfire Defense: How Monolithic Domes Can Bolster Community Safety

2025-01-22T23:27:16-06:00

While no single solution can solve every problem, incorporating Monolithic Domes into disaster mitigation plans—whether as homes, schools, municipal buildings or community shelters—can save lives and provide a foundation for quicker recovery. (Continued…)

A Quick Look at Construction of a South Carolina Hoop Dome

2025-03-03T12:26:19-06:00

Monolithic superintendent Javier Figueroa took some great photos during the construction of a ring-beam footing and the attachment and inflation stages of a 55-foot hoop-style Monolithic Dome in South Carolina. Check out this quick photo journal. (Continued…)

Construction Photo Journal of New Two-Story Dome Home in Vermont

2025-03-03T12:29:40-06:00

This photo journal depicts the construction of the dome shell for a house we recently completed in Vermont. It is an insider’s tour of the steps to construct a Monolithic Dome home. This home is a two-story dome with a 43-foot diameter. It sits on a 10-foot stemwall and is 25 feet tall in total. (Continued…)

Your New Favorite Airbnb—Sedona Domes!

2024-12-10T12:49:16-06:00

On the edge of Sedona, Arizona, greeting travelers driving the Red Rock Scenic Byway, is Sedona Domes, created originally as “Xanadu of Sedona” in the early 90s. The Arizonan landmark has taken on a new identity with its current owners, Laura Lee and Paul Robear. The couple updated the historic Monolithic Dome home and share it with others via their highly-rated, popular Airbnb. (Continued…)

Inflation of Unique Airform for Clubhouse in Virginia

2025-03-03T12:40:53-06:00

In February, we started the patterning and manufacturing of one of our most unique projects for 2024. This Airform is for a clubhouse being built in Virginia. It is made up of six interconnected, 60-foot (12 m) diameter domes. Three domes will have massive cutouts in which glass walls will be installed. (Continued…)

A Triumph of Design and Patience: The CSO Concert Hall in Ankara, Turkiye Becomes a Cultural Landmark

2024-12-10T12:37:11-06:00

Turkiye’s new Presidential Symphony Orchestra (or CSO) Concert Hall in Ankara, Turkiye, officially opened in 2021 and has since hosted hundreds of performances by artists from every artistic genre and every corner of the world. It features two Monolithic Domes and has become a symbol of Turkiye’s rich and ever-evolving cultural landscape and is the country’s artistic epicenter. (Continued…)

How to Install Electrical Wiring in a Monolithic Dome

2024-10-03T09:10:15-05:00

Electrical wiring is more than power for lights, air conditioning, and toasters. It’s also phone calls, surfing the web, fire alarms, and a surround sound theater—any system where an electrical circuit is needed. With proper planning, wiring a Monolithic Dome—whether it’s a home, school, storage, or storm shelter—is straightforward. (Continued…)

2024 Monolithic Dome Research Park Tour

2024-09-25T13:03:24-05:00

Come and tour the shops, offices, and houses at the Monolithic Dome Research Park in Italy, Texas. This FREE tour is open to the public on October 19, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and includes the famous Bruco: The Texas Italian Caterpillar. (Continued…)

Solar Success: How the Triple Dome Became a Model for Clean Energy

2024-07-31T00:02:01-05:00

BYU’s Triple Dome, featuring a Monolithic Dome structure, showcases advanced energy efficiency and sustainable design. Built by over 50 students, this innovative eco-friendly home highlights BYU’s dedication to practical, hands-on learning in green building technologies. (Continued…)

Applying Synthetic Stucco to a Monolithic Dome Home in Milford, Texas

2024-06-20T15:19:34-05:00

Some friends of Monolithic own a rental house in Milford, Texas, that was in dire need of some attention to the Airform. The house is about 20 years old, and the Airform has never been coated. Over the years, UV and weather damage has left the polyurethane foam exposed and blistering. A great way to renovate the exterior of a Monolithic Dome Home like this one is to patch the Airform and install a synthetic stucco coating. (Continued…)

Italy, Texas, Class of 2024 Holds Graduation in their Monolithic Dome

2024-05-31T18:29:49-05:00

Italy High School intended to hold their graduation ceremony in their new, shiny stadium, but as the temperature continued to climb on Friday, it became clear it would be unsafe to hold the festivities outside. Late in the day, the school district sent an alert that graduation had been moved to the multipurpose Monolithic Dome gymnasium, the Gladiator Coliseum. (Continued…)

Remembering Larry Byrne, 1942-2024

2024-05-08T20:39:24-05:00

On Tuesday, April 23, 2024, we laid to rest our friend and colleague, James Laurence Byrne, in the Sutton Cemetery near Rexburg, Idaho. Larry was a family man, church and community leader, farmer, former Air Force Captain, and a pioneer in the Monolithic Dome industry. For three decades, Larry served as chief designer at Monolithic, where he designed everything from houses to giant storages, developed standardized design elements still used across the dome industry, and consulted with engineers and architects as they worked to become familiar with dome design. (Continued…)

The New OCC Planetarium Inspires with Immersive Atmosphere and Galactic Design

2024-03-29T20:40:58-05:00

After ten careful years of discussion and development, Orange Coast College modeled its new Planetarium on our spiral Milky Way galaxy and placed a Monolithic Dome at its center. (Continued…)

Sustainable Shield: The Beauty and Benefits of Metal Cladding on Monolithic Domes

2024-03-20T14:21:07-05:00

Metal cladding adds beauty, strength and sustainability to Monolithic Domes. It reduces the need for maintenance and can add decades of life to a dome. Steel shingles protect domes from extremes of temperature, UV light, and water absorption. (Continued…)

Vista Dhome For Sale: Barry Braswell Reflects on the Legacy of His Legendary Monolithic Dome Home

2024-02-28T12:45:58-06:00

Barry Braswell is carefully looking for new stewards for his family’s iconic Monolithic Dome Home situated on 40 acres in the untamed foothills of the San Bernadino Mountains of California. Built by Braswell and his uncle, Vista Dhome is 4500 square feet and features a spectacular view. (Continued…)

O’Toole, Inc.’s Fertilizer Storage Dome: Where Simple Means Profitable

2024-02-06T13:06:19-06:00

Greg O’Toole’s company, O’Toole, Inc., in Letts, Iowa, has been in the business of supplying farmers with what they need since 1981. Iowa grows more corn than any other state in the United States, at 2.5 billion bushels of corn a year, and the United States leads in corn production across the world, at 13.7 billion bushels a year, according to the Iowa Corn Growers Association. Greg chose a Monolithic Dome to contain the urea he supplies to keep that corn and other crops growing. (Continued…)

Learn to Build a Dome at the Spring 2024 Monolithic Dome Builders Workshop

2024-02-03T15:11:10-06:00

Have you ever wanted to build a Monolithic Dome? To get your hands dirty applying foam, hanging steel, and spraying shotcrete? Want to learn from dome builders with decades of experience? Now’s your chance. Come to the Spring 2023 Monolithic Dome Builders Workshop this April and build a genuine Monolithic Dome. (Continued…)

Easy Winter Construction of O’Toole’s Fertilizer Storage Dome—Step by Step in Pictures

2024-02-02T14:02:37-06:00

Winter construction on a new fertilizer storage for O’Toole, inc. in Letts, Iowa, went very smoothly despite the weather. One of the great things about Monolithic Dome construction is that most of the work is done inside and out of the elements. This project highlighted that advantage and is a great example of the most efficient single-component dome storage that can be built. (Continued…)

The Art of Perfect Stucco on the Brown’s House

2024-02-02T14:14:16-06:00

This pictorial illustrates the steps we took to give Ryan Brown’s house in Aubrey, Texas, the perfect stucco exterior. The stucco system on Ryan Brown’s Monolithic Dome home will last 10 to 15 years before a top coat will be needed. The top coats are easy and cost-effective to apply and can be done by the homeowner or local paint contractor. (Continued…)