Madison Heights
Salt Storage Dome
Project Overview
In 2021, the City of Madison Heights, Michigan, engaged in a turnkey design-build partnership to revitalize its municipal infrastructure. Designed by Chris Zweifel of ZZ Consulting, this project replaced an end of life facility with a high-performance Monolithic Dome. The project demonstrates how advanced structural geometries can solve complex site and schedule constraints for the Department of Public Safety.
Statistic | Measurement | Units | Dome Diameter | 92 | foot |
|---|---|---|
Dome Height | 35 | Foot tall |
Total Square Footage | 6,647 | Sq ft |
Capacity (Tons/People) | 3,000 | tons |
Number of Intercotected Domes | 1 | done |
Time to Completion | 9 | weeks |
Official Project Name: Madison Heights Salt Storage Dome
Location: Madison Heights, MI
Client: City of Madison Heights / Department of Public Safety
Designer / Engineer: ZZ Consulting / Chris Zweifel
Completion Year: 2021
Dimensions: 92′ Diameter\35′ Height
The Challenge
The project brief presented a multifaceted architectural and logistical challenge. The client required a complete lump-sum delivery covering demolition, permitting, site work (including storm drainage), and commissioning. The primary constraint was site efficiency: the city needed to significantly increase salt storage capacity without expanding beyond the existing facility’s footprint. Furthermore, the project was driven by a critical timeline, requiring a full tear-down and rebuild within a strict 12-week window.
Exterior view of the new Madison Heights Monolithic Dome salt storage facility under construction, showing its light-colored dome structure, large entrance for machinery, and surrounding dirt work area with construction equipment and trees under a clear blue sky.
The Plan
To resolve the conflict between limited site area and increased load requirements, the design team leveraged the efficient geometry of the Monolithic Dome. By utilizing the dome’s natural structural strength and spatial volume, the plan allowed for a compact 92 foot diameter footprint that could maximize vertical storage utility. The design strategy focused on optimizing internal volume to achieve a 3,000 ton capacity while adhering to the rigorous schedule.
Interior view of the textured concrete wall of the Monolithic Dome salt storage facility, looking out through the large entry opening to an exterior work area with construction vehicles and trees.
The Results
The completed 6,647 square foot structure showcases the versatility of thin-shell concrete construction. A key design feature is the integrated “augment”, a structural modification that creates a flat, two-dimensional plane on the curved shell to accommodate a large overhead door for heavy loader access.
Visually, the dome offers a low aesthetic profile that integrates unobtrusively into the surrounding community context. The inherent efficiencies of the building system allowed the team to beat the aggressive schedule, reaching completion in just 9 weeks. The result is a resilient, high capacity facility that meets the specific O&M documentation and warranty standards required by the municipality.
Front exterior view of the completed Madison Heights Monolithic Dome salt storage facility at dusk, showing its large, integrated entry “augment” with the interior filled with green road salt, framed by the curved white shell and a light sky.
“We’re in a unique setting up on a butte, so we are quite visible. People flying in see us coming into the airport, and people driving in see us from the freeway. There’s an instant recognition of the domes, but many people don’t know what we are. A laboratory? An airport facility? What? So they come in and find out.”
External Links: Monolithic Dome Project Page | YouTube Video Tour | Client Success Story