After celebrating the Dome’s 50th birthday • We now looking forward to its next 50 years
A project to renovate the Fuller Dome so that it may continue to function as an inclusive multi-faith meeting space with the long-term goal of achieving a net-zero carbon foot print for the building.
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.” Bucky’s “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 as well as the world’s place in the universe. This was achieved by aligning the longitudinal lines of the building’s miniature earth dome with those of the actual earth. 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. The Edwardsville Center becomes at once a cathedral of universal reality and a cathedral of universal mystery…" Bucky envisioned building “Geoscopes” all over the world, straddling key lines of longitude around the planet. He eventually had the opportunity to build his “Geoscope” straddling the earth’s 90th Meridian in Edwardsville, IL on the SIUE campus. That building was dedicated in 1971, and today the Fuller Dome in Edwardsville Illinois is managed by the non profit organization, Center for Spirituality and Sustainability. It stands has the only built example in the world of Bucky’s “Geoscope” concept. Buckminster Fuller is often referred to as a “futurist.” He was also a student of history, and he used history as a way to orient humanity in its present moment, seeking to understand where we have been, in order to chart the course to where we want to be. In that spirit, we are looking to the building’s future to fund the Fuller Dome for the next 50 years.
A conceptual drawing, by architect Gary Karasek, showing the Fuller Dome with the addition of wind turbines and solar panels for renewable energy toward our goal of a net-zero carbon foot print.
The Fuller Dome has been in continuous use as a multi-faith place of worship for the more than 50 years now, without any significant renovation. The building is now in urgent need of capital improvement. In recent years the buildings heating system has begun to break down and today it is on borrowed time. The buildings flat roof that surrounds the miniature earth geodesic dome has exceeded its expected lifetime and it has begun to develop leaks. The dome itself has also developed a leak and is in need of renovation. Recent construction of new buildings and parking lots near the Fuller Dome have increased storm water runoff directed towards the building which has lead to some flooding in recent years. A dedicated and professional board of directors has managed to perform temporary fixes to address these issues as they have arisen to keep the building operating, but it is time to give the Fuller Dome the renovation it deserves.
The first three phases of this project are focused on the dome’s interior. These phases will provide an environment for enhanced and continued access to programing in the dome designed to bring people together around the common cause of caring for the planet and each other. These phases carry a total cost estimate of $150,000. Covering the cost of these three phases of renovation will provide the donor at the $150,000 level with naming rights to be featured on the glass curtain wall of the newly renovated Map Room.
In addition to the maintenance issues that have come to light due to the age of the building, some design issues related to access and usability of the building as it is currently configured have also arisen. We are addressing these issues with a redesign intended to create a welcoming and inclusive environment.
Redesigned Reception Desk
Rendering of the redesigned reception space featuring a health conscious ticket window
This past year has also brought to light that the Center’s reception area needs a redesign in consideration of current and future pandemic mitigation efforts. In conjunction with these required practical redesign considerations to the Center’s entryway, we will also undertake enhancing the buildings usability in this space so that we may welcome more students and visitor’s into the Fuller Dome.
The present configuration of the Fuller Dome’s reception space is an unwelcoming and unattractive “bunker”of filing cabinets and office equipment. It will be replaced with a more welcoming front desk that includes design details brought in from the dome space to honor Bucky and Shoji’s design. It will also position our staff in a more visible location to greet our guests while mitigating the transmission of airborne particulates.
Moving the reception desk into it’s new location will open up a new common space to welcome our guests. Adjacent to the newly redesigned reception desk will be new common space that will provide our guests with a comfortable and inviting area to gather before and after events in the dome. Currently, visitors to the dome are left to linger in the doorway without a common reception space in which to feel welcome. This common space will also include a store filled with items intended to further the Center’s mission to promote our sacred connection to the earth and each other.
New common reception space including a store
In additional to welcoming our guests into the dome and providing them with an easy flow of space to connect and explore, the newly created store will also provide an additional revenue stream to support the Center’s vision.
The projected cost estimate to bring this vision of a more welcoming and inclusive reception space to life is $25,000. That estimate includes:
The redesign of a more welcoming front desk
The creation of a health conscious ticket window
The addition of a new common reception space
Plus the creation of a Fuller Dome store
In the second phase of Funding the Fuller Dome’s Future we will create an inviting new gathering space in the dome for guests to connect with each other while engaging with the historic legacy of the dome’s visionary designer, Buckminster Fuller.
The Reimagined, Exhibition Corridor
In recent years the Fuller Dome has received some important donations of art and artifacts from the Estate of Buckminster Fuller. This phase of our 50th Anniversary Fundraiser is intended to provide a space to share those artifacts with our guests while enhancing a meeting space that will serve as a place of connection and discovery. Currently to the left of the dome’s reception area, there is a poorly lit corridor that leads to a meeting room without windows. This is a very uninviting and under-used space in the Center, but with this proposed redesign, this space will come alive with light and artifacts from the legacy of Buckminster Fuller.
Gallery lighting will be added to the reimagined “Exhibition Corridor” in order to share art and artifacts that once belonged to Buckminster Fuller and have recently been donated to the Center, by Bucky’s daughter, Allegra Fuller Snyder.
The Exhibition Corridor will lead to a newly installed glass curtainwall that will invite our visitors into a redesigned meeting space, outfitted with a projection screen and state of the art communications technology. Artifacts that tell the Fuller Dome’s story as it relates to the 90th Meridian, Bucky’s Dymaxion Map, his geodesic dome patten, cartography and Bucky’s nautical influences will adorn the walls. When not in use as a general meeting space this room will be used as a place for visitors to the dome to learn about Bucky’s legacy through the artifacts on display as well as a short film that can be shared on the projection screen.
The Redesigned “Map Room” Meet Space
In additional to providing our community with a space for connecting with each other, the redesigned “Exhibition Corridor” and “Map Room” creates an opportunity for deeper discovery and insight into Bucky’s world view.
The projected cost estimate to realize the “Exhibition Corridor” and “The Map Room” meeting space is $25,000. That estimate includes:
Adding gallery lighting and refurbishing the corridor
Installation of the glass curtainwall to the “Map Room”
Outfitting the “Map Room” with communications tech
Enhancing the “Map Room” to display Fuller artifacts
The natural gas boiler currently providing heat to the Fuller Dome underwent a temporary fix in 2024. It has been determined that this temporary fix is not likely to last for much longer and an immediate replacement boiler is needed. Along with replacing the boiler it is necessary to replace the ceilings in the dome to increase their insulation factor in preparation for evolving the domes flat rubber-membrane roof into a living green roof. The new heating system and the replacement ceiling with an enhanced R Factor has a cost estimate of $100,000. This third phase combined with previous two phases brings the total cost estimate to $150,000. As previously mentioned, a donor covering these phases will be entitled to naming rights prominently featured on the glass curtain wall of the newly renovated map room.
Level 1 • The completion of this $150,000 investment in the dome’s interior is our “level 1” donation and it will set the stag for moving forward with our “Level 2” and “Level 3” fundraising efforts.
Level 2 • “Greening of the Dome” which includes the green roof and connecting the dome to renewable energy sources including an array of photovoltaic panels and wind turbines. The current cost estimate of the “Level 2” financial support needed to achieve the greening of the dome is 3.2 million dollars.
Level 3 • Outdoor Plaza which will serve as the main entrance to the dome and also provide an outdoor event space enhancing the dome’s connection to the 90th Meridian. The plaza will mitigate storm water runoff from other campus buildings and parking lots that has flooded the dome in the past. The plaza will also provide a new ADA compliant front entrance to the dome to improve access for everyone. Bids for this project are currently being gathered in cooperation with the University and a renowned team of architects and contractors. There will be an opportunity for naming rights of the plaza to honor its benefactor.