From: Spencer W Hunter (shunter_at_U.Arizona.EDU)
Date: 04/29/02
Date: Mon, 29 Apr 2002 08:35:34 -0700 (MST) From: Spencer W Hunter <shunter_at_U.Arizona.EDU> Subject: Re: Omaha Desert Dome Message-ID: <Pine.SOL.4.44.0204290826240.27152-100000@bast.u.arizona.edu>
I posted an article about the Desert Dome to Usenet. Should've figured it
be of interest here, too. It follows below.
On Sun, 28 Apr 2002, J & D Goldman wrote:
> Saw an annoucement for the opening of the new Desert Dome at the Omaha
> Zoo. Looks like a big Temcor unit. They claim it was a $31.5 million
> project and took three years. Its supposed to house a 30 foot sand
> dune, big cactus garden, and other attractions. I'll post more info
> when I learn more.
>
> Dan G.
>
(posted 4/16/2002)
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.geodesic
Subject: Gorgeous dome makes the news
There's a really nice picture and article about the Desert Dome at the
Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, Nebraska in today's edition of the _Tucson
Citizen_ at http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/local/4_16_02dome.html .
Listed are some facts about the $31.5 million dome:
"It is the world's largest glazed geodesic dome. It contains 1,760
glazed acrylic panels in four shades.
"The top of the dome is 137 feet above the main level.
"It contains 84,000 square feet on two levels.
"The building is 230 feet in diameter and spans over 1 acre.
"It took 500,000 pounds of steel reinforcement to build.
"Building contains more than 10,000 tons of concrete.
"A gutter system catches rainwater, which is stored in two 20,000
gallon tanks underground and used for watering the dome's plants.
"The zoo's central plan uses chilled water during the summer and
boilers during the winter to keep the temperature inside between 72
and 75 degrees.
"By way of comparison, the enclosed portion of Tucson's Biosphere 2 is
a 3.5 acres, and stands 91 feet at its highest point."
Note: Biosphere 2 is not a dome; see http://www.bio2.edu .
The article also includes some comments by John Armkenecht, the lead
architect on the project:
"The Desert Dome, designed by the architectural firm ASD Stanley
J. Howe Architects of Omaha, is 137 feet above ground level and 230
feet in diameter. Armkenecht said he designed the dome so it could
take full advantage of the sun. It is, he said, basically one big
solar collector.
"'Our biggest problem is keeping it from getting too hot in there for
the people visiting the exhibit,' Armkenecht said.
"There are four shades of glazed acrylic panels used. The darkest
panels are near the top to filter summer sunlight. The clearest panels
are placed at the bottom to capture sunshine during winter. Fans at
the top of the dome help circulate air and remove excess warm air in
the summer, and there is a heat recovery unit to help warm the exhibit
in the winter.
"The temperature in public areas will be kept between 72 and 75
degrees - wintertime temperatures in the Sonoran Desert but downright
balmy for Omaha. When the dome is hot, chilled water from the zoo's
central plant is used for cooling. The central plant freezes large
tubs of ice at night to melt during the day for cooling. Cold water
from the tubs runs through pipes and provides air conditioning for the
Desert Dome and other exhibits.
"'In winter, we use a series of small boilers that turn on in sequence
as the need for heat grows,' Armkenecht said. 'They are kind of like
overgrown water heaters.'"
-- Spencer Hunter, Tucson, AZ gopher://www.u.arizona.edu:80/hGET%20/%7Eshunter