Stemwalls: What Works Best

Integrated stemwall — For this dome, Monolithic designed the Airform to go straight up, reach the bottom of the second floor, then start to curve over the top. At the second level, an eave was installed that encircles the dome. Although not particularly hard to do, the eave gives the dome a vastly different appearance.

Integrated stemwall — For this dome, Monolithic designed the Airform to go straight up, reach the bottom of the second floor, then start to curve over the top. At the second level, an eave was installed that encircles the dome. Although not particularly hard to do, the eave gives the dome a vastly different appearance.

No eave — Without its eave, the dome looks bare. The eave definitely adds appeal.

No eave — Without its eave, the dome looks bare. The eave definitely adds appeal.

Graceful Curves — This beautiful Monolithic Dome home was also designed and constructed with an integrated stemwall

Graceful Curves — This beautiful Monolithic Dome home was also designed and constructed with an integrated stemwall

The Orion — This Monolithic Dome Orion has a vertical stemwall, built in eight-foot sections, allowing the windows to be placed on non-curving, flat surfaces.

The Orion — This Monolithic Dome Orion has a vertical stemwall, built in eight-foot sections, allowing the windows to be placed on non-curving, flat surfaces.

Stemwall Forms — Using vertical forming, a stemwall is assembled, then sprayed in place, on its inside, before the dome is built. It becomes the exterior surface.

Stemwall Forms — Using vertical forming, a stemwall is assembled, then sprayed in place, on its inside, before the dome is built. It becomes the exterior surface.

Stemwall Construction — This stemwall is being built of formed reinforced concrete and will become a part of the dome when it’s constructed above it.

Stemwall Construction — This stemwall is being built of formed reinforced concrete and will become a part of the dome when it’s constructed above it.

Pulling an Airform — On the inside of a stemwall, a crew pulls out an Airform that will be attached to the top of the stemwall and inflated. Then the Monolithic Dome will be built on the inside.

Pulling an Airform — On the inside of a stemwall, a crew pulls out an Airform that will be attached to the top of the stemwall and inflated. Then the Monolithic Dome will be built on the inside.

Exterior stemwall — Avalon School has a beautiful exterior stemwall. The main structure is inside the stemwall – a Monolithic Dome going vertically up the back of the stemwall, over the dome, in one piece.

Exterior stemwall — Avalon School has a beautiful exterior stemwall. The main structure is inside the stemwall – a Monolithic Dome going vertically up the back of the stemwall, over the dome, in one piece.

Block Stemwall — Workers create a stemwall using concrete blocks. Although the block wall goes up first, it will only function as a pretty exterior for the Monolithic Dome.

Block Stemwall — Workers create a stemwall using concrete blocks. Although the block wall goes up first, it will only function as a pretty exterior for the Monolithic Dome.

Stemwall with Airform Attached — At St. Joseph Catholic Church, it appears that the dome sits on top of a vertical stemwall of split face block. In reality, the dome is one piece with the stemwall attached. The stemwall is simply a wearing surface, or visual surface, on the lower part.

Stemwall with Airform Attached — At St. Joseph Catholic Church, it appears that the dome sits on top of a vertical stemwall of split face block. In reality, the dome is one piece with the stemwall attached. The stemwall is simply a wearing surface, or visual surface, on the lower part.

Traditional Appearance — Often the administrators or owners of a school or commercial building want a traditional wall to walk up to. When that’s the wish, we build a vertical wall with brick, block or a coated surface to the outside. Then the Monolithic Dome appears to start at the top of the block, but actually the entire building is one piece or Monolithic.

Traditional Appearance — Often the administrators or owners of a school or commercial building want a traditional wall to walk up to. When that’s the wish, we build a vertical wall with brick, block or a coated surface to the outside. Then the Monolithic Dome appears to start at the top of the block, but actually the entire building is one piece or Monolithic.