The Buckminster FULLER DOME • Edwardsville Illinois
center for spirituality and sustainability, promoting humanity’s sacred connection to the earth and each other
In 1971, Buckminster Fuller and his architectural partner Shoji Sadao completed construction on a landmark geodesic dome that they designed as a Religious Center for the newly founded Southern Illinois University campus at Edwardsville, IL. The dome they created was the realization of a vision that Bucky had for a building idea he called a “Geoscope.” His “Geoscope” concept would be a spherical, translucent, miniature earth building that would allow it’s occupants a unique architectural vantage point to see their place in the world and the world’s place in the universe. In Bucky’s words, "a sense of orientation of each human individual within the profound magnificence of Universe is provided by the Center’s miniature earth. One goes inside to go outside one’s self and into the center of the Earth and thence outward to the stars in seconds.”
Soul Sunday in the Fuller Dome
Join us every Sunday at 10:30 AM in the Fuller Dome for “Soul Sunday.” The heart of this spiritual gathering is the sharing of prayers, inspirational readings, and passages from the scriptures of many faiths. Beyond that, there is no set form. You are welcome to simply sit, meditate and enjoy the spiritual atmosphere, or take a more active role by bringing and reading spiritual writings that uplift you. All are welcome. Masks are optional.
360° VR TOUR
click here to load the Fuller Dome 360° VR tour
The Center's vision is to preserve the Buckminster Fuller geodesic dome in Edwardsville, Illinois, as the physical embodiment of Fuller's philosophy. The dome's translucent "miniature Earth" is a beacon for global unity, providing a place for connecting the world's cultural and spiritual traditions through their common concern for the planet.
The Center's Fuller designed geodesic dome under construction in 1971
The Fuller Dome, Center for Spirituality and Sustainability, is a miniature earth geodesic dome designed by Buckminster Fuller on land leased from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE). Since 1971 the Dome has served the University and surrounding region as a place for multi-faith and interfaith gatherings.
The Dome’s programing related to data visualization and cartography leverages Buckminster Fuller’s legacy at SIU by keeping his Geoscope, World Game and World Resource Simulation Center concepts active. Through an accurate world-view we may make the world work through cooperation without disadvantage or ecological offense.
The dome holds a “Celebration of World Faiths” annually, highlighting various faith traditions focusing on interfaith issues. The Center also hosts an annual awards ceremony honoring two awardees each year. One award is presented for spiritual leadership and another for leadership in sustainability. These annual dual awards allow the Center recognize those who have shown leadership values that reenforce the Center's mission to promote humanity's sacred connection to the Earth and each other.
Become a “Friend of the Center” -
Join our sustaining membership, become a “Friend of the Center” and you’ll get two challenge coins mailed to you when you become a “Friend of the Center” one is for you to keep and the second one is for you to gift as a lovely way of recognizing graduations, promotions & life’s special moments. Bucky’s inspirational quote can be a reminder for your loved one to build the world they wish to live in, “You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.” - RBF
A 50th Anniversary reading of Buckminster Fuller's "Geoview" essay, originally read by Bucky for the 1971 dedication of his Religious Center, miniature-earth, "Geoscope" dome built on the SIUE campus. "Geoview" is read here on 10/22/21 (50 years from the day Bucky read it) by Bucky's grandson Jaime Snyder, his granddaughter Alexandra Snyder May, Bucky scholar David McConville, Bucky's colleague Amy Edmondson, Bucky devotee Benjamin Lowder, Bucky's niece Lucilla Fuller Marvel, and author of the Bucky play D. W. Jacobs. Today the Center is known as the Fuller Dome and it is managed by a nonprofit org. the Center for Spirituality & Sustainability.
