Biodome Advantages

A Biodome provides the most natural outdoor environment achieved in a structure because it is a free span construction.

This means there are no columns or internal roof supports taking up space or distracting the eye and reminding the viewer they are in a building. Once inside the doors, the walls go almost straight up and the ceiling is high. Out of sight and out of mind. The height provides plenty of headroom for tall trees and plants. It would be desirable to utilize the 60-foot height we are planning to allow the trees to grow high enough to have an actual forest canopy.

A hemispheric dome has the maximum structural stability because there are no corners or edges where stresses occur. The structure's weight is also evenly distributed and presses directly down, eliminating any spreading forces on the foundation.

A Biodome catches more light than a standard greenhouse. It's larger panels and more widely spaced supports screen out less light than a conventional small paned greenhouse. The curving dome also provides a face that is perpendicular to incident sunlight at any angle through the seasons. The overall gain in light transmitted into the greenhouse may exceed 20%. This can be particularly important during Michigan's low light season when dealing with tropical plants.

Because of its efficient design a dome require less equipment to control temperature. No sunscreens, whitewashing or evaporative coolers in the summer just quiet exhaust fans at the top where the heat collects and lower vents to draw cool air through like a chimney. Other dome botanical gardens also include a misting system that helps maintain the plants and keeps the interior up to eight degrees cooler than the outdoor temperature. In winter close the vents and reverse the fans to blow down the warm air from the days capture of solar heat. During the winter a heating system is still necessary, but good use of the solar potential can significantly offset the heating requirements.

The circular interior of the dome is particularly conducive to producing the natural contouring layout. Continuously curving paths and water channels give the most outdoor quality by blocking straight look through lines of sight. This then gives more of a feeling of being surrounded by nature and in your own space, a quality of larger outdoor environments.

MSU SGP

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