Geodesic dome rises at UH Manoa Sustainability Courtyard in preparation for April 22 Earth Day celebration

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Contact:
Linda Day, (808) 956-4055
UH Office of Sustainability
Posted: Apr 8, 2005

UH Manoa students, faculty and staff today erected a 44‘ geodesic EARTH DOME on the lawn of the POST Building to serve as a centerpiece for this year's Earth Day celebration on Friday, April 22.

The Earth Dome is 44‘ in diameter, stands 22‘ tall, has a floor area of 1,520 sq. ft. and weighs 1,500 pounds. Its frame is made of galvanized steel tube and its vinyl shell has the planet‘s land masses painted on it.

The theme of Earth Day 2005 will be "Malama ʻAina: Living in Harmony," honoring the traditional Hawaiian practice of caring for and sustaining the physical and cultural environment. The event will feature Earth-friendly food and products, local entertainment, and a multitude of hands-on activities throughout the day, highlighted by a series of action-oriented "teach-in" sessions in the Earth Dome. It will educate about and advocate for protecting Hawaii‘s natural and cultural resources, recommending a strategy of self-sufficiency for economic security. The event will be held in the campus‘ Sustainability Courtyard, and is being coordinated by the UH Office of Sustainability.


About Geodesic Domes

Geodesic domes were designed 50 years ago by world-famous architect and visionary R. Buckminster Fuller, and have been called the most efficient human shelter created. They combine the sphere, the most efficient container of volume per square foot, with the tetrahedron, which provides the greatest strength for the least volume of weight. They require less in materials to construct and less in resources to heat and cool than standard dwellings, and are quick to build, easily transportable and light. They can withstand hurricanes and earthquakes better than conventional buildings, and are the only structure that gets stronger, lighter in density, and cheaper per square foot as it increases in size.

Use of the dome is being donated by KingDomes of Hawaii, a locally owned and operated business serving the Pacific Rim and beyond. Use of the 25‘ scissors lift needed to construct the dome is being donated by Bob‘s Equipment, a family owned and operated company specializing in heavy construction equipment rentals and sales.