Faith Chapel — Two hundred and eighty foot in diameter dome, seventy four feet tall in Birmingham, Alabama. This is for a church that is listed on our site. It is the same size building as the small practice facility discussed in this article. Check it out here.
Monolithic Indoor Athletic Practice Facility/Field House
The Ideal Practice Dome
Athletes need to practice when it is neither too hot or too cold. But few players get to practice football, baseball, softball, track, rugby, etc. year around. A Monolithic Dome facility makes year-round practice possible. It largely eliminates the weather factor.
Here are four sizes of practice facilities:
I. 280-foot diameter; 74-foot height.
II. 280-foot diameter; 93-foot height.
III. 300-foot diameter; 100-foot height.
IV. 400-foot diameter; 100-foot height.
The smallest facility still provides very adequate space for half of a football field.
In the hottest or coldest climates, Monolithic Domes provide athletes a place to practice and learn their sports. Moreover, they’re affordable. Athletic Directors, Coaches, and Administrators will find the initial price modest. The annual costs will be minimal.
The buildings are made of traditional Monolithic construction. They are designed for hard use, every day of the year.
The dome is designed as a single practice facility with nothing else inside of it. Restrooms, coach’s offices, locker rooms, weight rooms can be located immediately adjacent. This leaves very little to be broken by a baseball batted in the dome, or a football kicked, or whatever!
Heating and Cooling
This simple straight forward dome allows many innovations.
Because the dome is virtually the world’s most energy-efficient building, the earth will primarily be its heating and cooling system. Temperatures will stay comfortable with no cooling inputs. If the building needs a little warming, you simply leave the lights on. This saves millions of dollars in heating and cooling.
One of our Monolithic Domes in the mountains of Idaho was left totally vacant for 18 months. Outside temperatures varied from -20 F in the winter to 100+ F in the summer. But with no temperature management, the dome’s interior temperature varied less than 25 degrees during the entire year.
With nothing more than minimal temperature management, we expect these facilities to stay 20 degrees below outside highs and never drop below the 50s for lows. A Monolithic Dome’s ability to capture and retain the earth’s temperatures makes this possible.
Ventilation
Air circulation is provided by super-large fans mounted from the roof. Doors can be opened and a few suction fans mounted at the perimeter for fresh air.
Although the building qualifies as naturally ventilated, we will have a CO2 monitor system to control the fresh air fans and insure that the inside air is fresh and fair. A computer will operate the fans and bring in outside air to heat and cool as appropriate. The huge fan(s) in the ceiling will keep the air circulated. Obviously the enormous volume of air within the building will help as well.
Other Features
For flooring, one of the new artificial turfs or whatever the customer wants can be installed. Artificial Turf is included with these prices.
Because the practice dome does not house offices, etc. fire sprinklers are not needed – saving significant money.
Powerful florescent lighting, part way up the dome, shining across and up over the field will provide illumination. These lights will be as energy efficient as possible. As an option “Induction” lights will be offered. They cost more, but they last longer and burn less electricity.
The Package
Monolithic is offering these facilities as a package, including the design and the construction. Our design/build will include everything but site development. Since sites vary from location to location, we can’t put a number on it at this point. We also offer to design and build other buildings that may be needed for locker rooms, weight rooms, etc. around the Practice Facility.
The Monolithic Dome will meet all of FEMA specifications for a Tornado Shelter. At a very modest cost increase, the doors can be modified to qualify this facility as a true Tornado Shelter per FEMA specifications. In some locations, FEMA may participate in the costs. See FEMA Funds Monolithic Dome Tornado Shelter.
Please call us at 972-483-7423 or email at [email protected] for information or to get started on your state-of-the-art, green-as-grass, FEMA shelter Indoor Athletic Practice Facility.
Click here to view drawings of our Indoor Soccer facilities.
A Note to Alumni and Alumni Associations: You know that times are changing. Athletes in most places do not get enough time to practice and stay ahead of their game. Often it is too cold, or too hot, or raining, or snowing, or lightning – you get the picture. Can you help your school get one of these facilities?
June 13, 2009
Updated September 22, 2010
Inside Faith Chapel — Inside Faith Chapel you notice the clear span building with enormous amounts of stuff hanging on the ceiling. We won’t be doing that in the athletic practice facility. We will be using that space for fans and sound equipment, as well as lights. This shows the strength of the dome.
From Afar — The two hundred and eighty foot dome pictured from afar.
Excavation — Two hundred and eighty dome built in Alabama showing excavation for the seating. This gives you an idea of the size.
Inflated — You can see the Airform is in place for the two hundred and eighty diameter by seventy four tall Monolithic Dome.
Attached — The airform is now attached to the ringbeam foundation and ready to inflate.
Baseball — A full blown baseball field is much larger than a four hundred foot dome, nevertheless, the entire infield and half of the outfield fit and make an extremely good practice facility. Balls knocked around inside won’t hurt anything and big time practices can be very easily handled within the dome. (Larry Byrne)
Rugby — Rugby uses the larger of the athletic fields. A half-court doesn’t quite fit in the dome with 280’ diameter, but it will in the 300’ dome. (Larry Byrne)
Softball — This drawing depicts the 300’ diameter dome; the dotted lines represent 280’. Obviously, a softball field almost totally fits within the confines of the area. (Larry Byrne)
Lacrosse — The LaCrosse half-court easily fits within the 280’ diameter Monolithic Dome. (Larry Byrne)
Football — A half-football field fits very nicely within the 280’ Monolithic Dome. It fits extremely easy in the 300’ Monolithic Dome. Unlike other practice facilities where kicking can’t be allowed, this building is ideal. With a roof that’s 74’ to 100’ in the air, players can kick until their hearts content. (Larry Byrne)
Soccer — Soccer field illustrated here is smaller than a football field. Soccer fields come in many sizes, but all will work for half-size within the athletic practice facility. (Larry Byrne)
Complete Football Field — As illustrated, the 400’ dome holds a complete football facility. Top of the uprights on the goal posts are a bit shorter than regulation; otherwise this field is completely set-up as a regulation football field. It certainly has the size needed for any practicing. See the Monolithic Megasphere for larger field. (Larry Byrne)
Dimensions — Dimensions shown from the indoor practice facility. (Larry Byrne)
Size — This picture gives you an idea of the size of a 280’ diameter Monolithic Dome. You have two-man lifts that are very large operating inside. You can also see they have hung way down the equipment struts. These will not be in the practice field facility.
Strength — Again, this picture simply illustrates the strength and size of the dome. The entire upper assembly is carried off the dome itself (280’ diameter, 74’ height).
Ceramic Tile — The 280’ dome shown here has other buildings attached. These could be dressing rooms, offices, etc. The roof of this building has been covered with ceramic tile.