Dome Technology

Central Fire District contracted with Idaho Falls-based Dome Technology to build an energy-efficient, 11,300-square-foot fire station with a dome roof system 100 feet in diameter built upon a 17-foot CMU stem wall.

“For the city of Menan, this will be a great structure. It’s going to be a good addition to the city of Menan, and it’s one that could be used for a storm shelter (and) for a gathering place for some things that goes on in Menan,” Central Fire Commission chairman Roger Anderson said.

The station includes five bays for trucks and a mezzanine for future expansion. The building’s low-profile post-tension concrete dome shell yields energy efficiency and moderates interior temps. Domes are built truss free, providing ample open spaces inside for community events and flexibility as station needs change. The building was designed “so that we have a future with it. It’s not just what we need right now; it’s built so that we can expand with the building,” Anderson said.

The project will provide peace of mind for station volunteers hoping to keep equipment protected and ready in an emergency. In traditional construction, roof systems can collapse during extreme weather or seismic events. If equipment is trapped under the roof, volunteers aren’t able to assist the community as needed. “In this particular instance, that’s not going to happen. The roof will not collapse in any kind of natural disaster,” said Dome Technology project manager Daren Wheeler.

Dome Technology constructs architectural buildings and storm shelters around the world and is certified with the National Storm Shelter Association. Each project is customized to a customer’s needs and specifications.