The Fascinating Forms of Pacific Domes
From Scientific Innovation to Practical Usage
Story by Valerie Coulman
Photography provided by Pacific Domes
If you’ve ever seen a geodesic dome structure, they are sure to have caught your eye as a unique construction in a generally rectangular industry.
But while they may look futuristic, the designs of geodesic domes are rooted in the very fabric of nature, says Asha Deliverance, founder and owner of Pacific Domes, an award-winning and innovative manufacturing company that has served the world from their home office in Ashland.
Deliverance is first to admit that the designs Pacific Domes creates have always been heavily influenced by the work of Buckminster “Bucky” Fuller, a philosopher, systems theorist, and architectural visionary who first popularized the geodesic dome in the US in the 1940s. At that time, the U.S. government was the first to recognize a practical use for his icosahedral structure, and the half domes were commissioned as quick and efficient shelters for Marines and were put into use around the world in that capacity. But when Fuller built his first full sphere geodesic dome at the University of Oregon Architecture School in 1959, it’s potential for a variety of uses became even more evident.
In an interesting connection between the worlds of architecture and science, in 1985 it was recognized that certain carbon molecules carry the same structural design—complex, beautiful in precision, and incredibly strong. This molecule would become known as buckminsterfullerene, or more simply the buckyball, in a tribute to the work of Buckminster Fuller. The implications of the discovery reached far beyond a simple molecule as biomimicry opened the door to imagination linked with practical application.
Deliverance first studied the work of Fuller at the age of 14, attending an alternative college where her mother taught. Fuller’s larger focus was to “apply the principles of science to solve the problems of humanity” in a way that allowed humankind to do more with less, thinking about material and energy conservation as a way to live harmoniously with the environment. That focus is what initially connected Deliverance to the work and heart of Fuller’s life drive. The practical and visionary prospects of the geodesic dome caught her attention as she tackled that construct for herself.
“I built my first dome in 1979,” she says, using a simple sewing machine to construct a shelter as part of the back-to-the-land movement of the early 80s. The design caught people’s attention, particularly for what she affectionately refers to as “hippy farms,” and she began experimenting with design elements as more people approached her about using the dome shape for homes, greenhouses, and more. That interest turned into a business and from those early days 45 years ago, their systems and design innovations have spread across the globe into bigger and more diverse uses for both personal, business, and humanitarian needs. “It’s the strongest structure known to man. We can create a structure that can withstand an earthquake or a hurricane. And we can make it in a day. Who can do that?”
Pacific Domes are built in Ashland on steelwork frames produced in Arizona by Deliverance’s brother, while her local design and manufacturing teams are assisted by CAD-driven design and cutting machines. Working in either canvas or architectural vinyl, the domes are custom sewn or assembled with RF (radio frequency) welders in their Ashland headquarters to assist their production of domes that will deliver solid, dependable operation in any setting.
Disaster Relief
The quick assembly and design of a geodesic dome make them a unique response option when areas are hit by natural disaster. “Our domes all assemble with a ratchet,” Deliverance points out, and two people can assemble a 16-foot dome in a couple hours. The domes also have proven to stand strong against storms and other natural disasters once established.
It’s a practical application that has been put to the test. When Haiti experienced devastating storms in the early 2000s, Pacific Domes was in a position to help. “We were able to send all our inventory to the area, with the help of a local sponsor for shipping,” she says. Compact to ship and quick to assemble, their domes quickly became twenty-two hospitals and emergency clinics, including two birthing centers, while other response teams were still working to set up.
Event Venues
From those early shelters and living quarters, design also impacted application as Pacific Domes created bigger and bigger domes. Their standard domes range from 16-120 feet, but her team’s design skill moved them to an even larger impact when paired with projection elements that ranged from small “pop-up” events to globally known immersive digital dome concert venues like the Sphere in Las Vegas, the Dubai 360 Sphere, or Madison Square Garden.
Her son, Christopher Lejeune, grew up with Pacific Dome, and when Pacific Domes received a call 20 years ago about an opportunity to test a new projection technology, Lejeune met with Travis Threlkel. That meeting led to their co-founding Obscura Digital in San Francisco, a company that has accomplished landmark events and achievements that reached global attention, some in partnership with Pacific Domes and their large-scale designs. Their joint client list is extensive as they’ve provided a framework for spectacular presentations around the world.
Base Camps & Glamping
In the most recent application of their domes, they have found a solid market around the world in having easily transported and dependable structures for base camps, outdoor excursions, and most recently, glamping resorts. “You name it, we’ve done it.” From developers using the domes as an income opportunity to pay off their land to award-winning glamping resorts around the world, Pacific Domes is accessible to all levels of investment and vision.
“We’ve made a global splash.” But none of that has changed their core values as a family-driven, woman-owned, and U.S.-based business. “My most important theme of my life is creating community that is close to nature and sustainable.” Her dreams of next steps for their dome designs echo that. One of the key projects they’d like to see implemented is a healing dome that could calibrate the lights and sound of concert venues to activate healing modalities for the audience. They have seen an intriguing interplay of the dome structures with harmonic fields that have their team looking into the health and wellness applications. They are also looking to set up more overseas manufacturing options, and have started in Poland for the purpose of being able to respond more intentionally and efficiently to the variety of purposes their domes fill around the world.
“We’re hoping to spread the design because we believe in its potential,” says Deliverance. From simple play structures, eco-friendly living spaces, emergency relief shelters, greenhouses, entertainment amphitheaters, educational centers, and more, the realities of the strength, resilience, and sustainability of geodesic domes hold potential still to be explored, and Pacific Domes is leading the way to more.
Pacific Domes
541-418-7737
