June 2008 – Construction Begins on Dibble, Oklahoma School and Gym

Carol Lanham • Published • Press Release Library

Media Advisory

WHAT:

Construction crews building a new middle school and gym in Dibble, Oklahoma will be turning heads on Monday, June 16th (weather permitting) when they use giant fans to inflate a huge balloon, known as an Airform to create the shape of a new dome building.

The school is building two Monolithic Domes, which are steel-reinforced concrete buildings known for their ability to meet Federal Emergency Management Agency’s standards for near-absolute protection from tornadoes. Often these types of buildings double as community tornado shelters, making this event especially newsworthy.

WHEN:

Monday, June 16th, 2008
3:30 p.m., weather permitting

WHERE:

100 Main St., Dibble, Oklahoma

WHY:

Once the Airform has been inflated to create the shape of the first dome, crews can then move into the interior, where they will spray polyurethane foam on the Airform and reinforce it with a grid of steel rebar. They then will spray the dome with two or three inches of Shotcrete. The result will be a safe, permanent and energy efficient structure designed to last for centuries.

WHO:

Contact Carol Cirulli Lanham at BWG Agency for more information,
972-818-0895, or Derek South, the superintendent on the construction site, 208-241-7233.

WHAT ELSE:

One of the Monolithic Domes will serve as the middle school, and will include eight classrooms and an office complex. The second dome will serve as a middle school gymnasium. The two domes will be connected by a common area.

The curve of the domes combined with the materials used in their construction account for the buildings’ strength. The buildings also are energy efficient, costing as much as 50 percent less to heat and cool than traditional structures of the same size.

Monolithic Domes are also considered among the greenest of all building alternatives. According to the U.S. Green Building Council, a sustainable building saves energy, water and materials; safeguards the surrounding area; assures the safety and health of their occupants; and is low maintenance.

Dibble is among eight school districts in Oklahoma that have opted for the Monolithic Dome method of construction. Others include: Locust Grove, Buffalo, Hinton, Beggs, Okima, Texoma and Geronimo (currently under construction.) The Dibble project, along with Geronimo, consists of an entire school facility.

Designed by Boynton-Williams and Associates of Norman, the Dibble school is being built by South Industries, Inc. of Menan, Idaho. To see photos and read more about Monolithic Dome schools across the United States, go to HYPERLINK http://www.monolithic.com.

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