Structure dome

From Reach

A Structure Dome is a prefabricated building meant for quick construction and longstanding resiliancy. These are the most common form of building on Reach, although many colonists find them uncomfortable, or even stifling. They are geodesic half-spheres, with a radius of 5 meters. Entrance is gained through a removable section of ceramic plates slightly above ground level.

A structure dome is a geodesic dome constructed of Tilum rods. These rods assemble quickly, screwing in to the meeting points, where a chemical coated on the end of the rod forms a reaction and welds itself to the joint. After the geodesic framework is constructed (Taking approximately 6 hours with 8 people working on it) a thermal insulating tarp is stretched over the framework. Next, the colonists cover the framework with a number of ceramic plates. These plates help with both insulation and chemical resiliancy. With the plates set, the last step is to seal the joints with a chemical resistant filler, preventing any chemical precipitation from leaking in. This filler is commonly taken from structure dome kits and sold for other purposes, meaning the the purchaser of a kit must often buy it seperately or substitute Reach Rubber.

While common, cheap, and built to last, these structures still gather a large number of complaints. Because they are built as half spheres, they are not expandable. Several solutions were attempted to join spheres together for a larger building, but any modification inevitabley compromises the stability of the structure. Since the Tilum rods are visible from the inside, they are often compared to the skeleton of the building, leaving a disturbing impression in some. Also, the doorways never seal properly, leading to leaking of chemical precipitation or toxic gas. This forces structure dome owners to purchase a seperate airlock like doorway meant to fit around the entrance of the dome, which is often more expensive than the dome itself.