Spur, Texas: Highlighting Its Domes

Just another small, rural Texas town?

Not really! Spur may be small and in a rural area that’s about 60 miles east of Lubbock, but its 1,088 residents take pride in its history and accomplishments.

For example, in 2009 Spur celebrated its centennial by dedicating a Giant Spur sculpture, created by a local welder just for the occasion. And, like many small towns, Spur’s historical downtown area has its share of abandoned buildings, but they’re kept stately and clean.

Spur ISD

Like the town, Spur’s school district also has a proud history. It started – you guessed it – in 1909 as a one-room schoolhouse. But now its 307 students in Kindergarten through Grade 12 are using and enjoying three new Monolithic Domes.

This entire, dome-building project, that began this past March and continued through to the beginning of the 2012 school year, is highlighted and documented in a video on the school’s website.

Superintendent Earl Jarrett said, “We teach technology classes here at the high school. Periodically, the video on our website is changed. It typically is linked to a school activity, and one of the students wanted to do a slideshow of the construction project. But the video that’s on there now is temporary and will be replaced as a class project.”

The Monolithic Domes

Lee Gray of Leland A. Gray Architects in Salt Lake City designed the spacious domes: a gymnasium with a diameter of 147 feet and seating for 450, an auditorium with a diameter of 102 feet and 450 seats, and a foyer/connector with a diameter of 83 feet.

The foyer acts as a lobby and includes concession stands, a music room and support space. It also sports an attractive acoustical ceiling.

Construction of the domes was handled by Custom Construction and Design of Herriman, Utah.

Approved!

Spur’s Bulldogs and Spurettes are enjoying their new dome gym and both the school and the community like the auditorium. Superintendent Jarrett said, "Everything that I have heard has been very positive. We’re thrilled that we have new facilities, and we appreciate that they are economical and energy-efficient. "