The Oak Dome is a unique structure that was constructed by the Monolithic Dome Company based in Italy, Texas. The history of the installation process is hazy at best. The Church and the various contractors weren't paying close attention to the installation process and the developing problems. Initially things looked fine and the dome was pressed into service. However, the problems were initiated and it would be a matter of time before they came to the surface. The issues that had to be corrected were as follows.
The primary consideration that needed to be addressed was drainage. The dome was constructed in a slight depression which had to fill before drainage could occur. All of the fancy dirt work that was done to support the enormous weight of the dome was done in a ditch that was dug in a clay type soil. All of the compaction turned to mush when the footing ditch filled with water and didn't drain. However, the dome as a structure remained sound even after it shifting. There was a sidewalk constructed around the dome that acted as a dam. This kept the water close to the dome footing for extended periods of time. Please see figures 1a & 1b below.
Before the water could adequately drain, water was able to migrate into the footing of the dome and up under the dome. There was a clear path for the water to flow into and under the footings. Note the exposed footing in figures 2a & 2b below.
Because of the shifting the utilities and the sewer lift station were not maintaining the initial levels in comparison with the dome. The sewer line running into the sump tank was spliced with a plastic sleeve which was crushed by the back fill around the tank. The line coming from the dome actual came in about 2" lower than the inlet of the tank causing a natural "p" trap. The line had to be exposed and a new inlet to the sewer pump tank cut so that the sewage could gravity flow into the pump tank. The HVAC compressors and condensing units along with the electric transformer were shifting and tilting. Please see figure 3 below.
The fact that the dome was settling faster than the interior structure caused crushing problems to the interior structure. Noticeable from outside the dome were the doors and the entrance side walls. The design allowed for the relative shifting in that there needed to be allowance for up to four inches of movement. This was not allowed for in construction and the results are still being dealt with. The doors frames were being crushed and door operation hampered. Note the skewed frames, the crushed lights over the doors, and the crushed door close-up in figures 4a & 4b below. Figures 5a, 5B, 5c, & 5d below illustrate the shifting and drainage issues at the dome openings.
