Construction History
From the Archive: January 7, 1960
This 1960 cover depicts a huge nylon bag lifting a 384-ft-dia steel geodesic dome, the largest such pneumatic erection operation up to that time.
The dome, which consisted of 893 hexagonal, welded-steel panels, structurally supported on the outside by a lattice of 6-in.-dia pipe struts, weighed over 500 tons. The nylon diaphragm, which was 1⁄33-in.-thick, was attached to the underside of the lid in a 175-ft-dia circle, and air was forced into the diaphragm through an underground tunnel.
Designed by architect and inventor Buckminster Fuller, the dome was fabricated and erected by Graver Tank & Mfg. Co. for its parent company, Union Tank Car Co to serve as a railroad tank car repair and maintenance shop in Wood River, Ill., until 2019.
During erection, pressure was maintained at 1.45 ounces per sq in., only slightly above atmospheric pressure. At that pressure, 90% of the dome’s weight was supported by air, with the remaining 10% resting on the hydraulic jacks, which helped stabilize the dome and prevent it from “floating.” In addition to the jacks, 10 wire rope guy lines prevented lateral shifting during high winds.
A network of 326 ropes hung from the underside of the dome down the bag at 3 ft intervals, cradling it. During lifting operations the dome rose at the rate of 1 in. every 30 seconds.
Designed by Buckminster Fuller, the dome was fabricated and erected by Graver Tank & Mfg. Co. for its parent company, Union Tank Car Co. It served as a railroad tank car repair and maintenance shop in Wood River, Illinois, until 2019.
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