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.-..16.1W1.4011M14..................-.....611..11
DOCUMENT RESUMEED 031 064
By-Robertson, NanAir Structures for School Sports.-Educational Facilities Labs., Inc., New York, N.Y.Pub Date May 64Note-28p.EDRS Price MF-S0.25 HC-S1.50Descriptors-*Air Structures, Athletic Activities, Construction Costs, Costs, Maintenance, *Physical EducationFacilities, *Prefabrication, Safety, School Construction, School Maintenance, School Safety
Air structures are fabric buildings blown up and held up by air pressure.Experiments with such structures were conducted as early as 1917. In 1948 theUnited States Air Force sought a new way of housing large radar antennae plannedfor the arctic. As an outcome of their search, Birdair Structures, Inc., which is nowone of several companies selling such structures, was founded. Early experiences withair structwes for schools in Litchfield, Connecticut, were disappointing. Thesubsequent erection of two more bubbles was evidence that satisfaction waseventually achieved. Cost estimates of $2.14 per square foot compare favorably withwood-domed fieldhouses at $6.53 per square foot or geodesic fieldhouses at $8.34per square foot. Costs for swimming pool use are estimated at $9.38 per squarefoot as compared to $26.00 and $32.00. Ease of heating is also emphasized.Installation time is approximately one day. There is no danger of suffocation in caseof deflation because the process is slow and the mater!al can easily be lifted shouldone find it necessary to get out under such conditions. There is no fire danger.Because of high reflection surface, lightning problems are minimal. This documentpreviously announced as ED 018 924. (RH)
EF 003 541
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S L
AB
OR
AT
OR
IES,
IN
C.
is a
non
prof
it co
rpor
atio
n es
tabl
ishe
d by
the
Ford
Fou
ndat
ion
in 1
958
to h
elp
Am
eric
an s
choo
ls a
nd c
olle
ges
with
thei
r ph
ysic
al p
robl
ems
by th
e en
cour
agem
ent o
fre
sear
ch a
nd e
xper
imen
tatio
n an
d th
e di
ssem
inat
ion
of k
now
ledg
e re
gard
ing
educ
atio
nal f
acili
ties.
BO
AR
D O
F D
IRE
CT
OR
SM
ilton
C. M
umfo
rd, C
hair
man
Pres
iden
t, L
ever
Bro
ther
s C
ompa
nyA
lvin
C. E
uric
h, V
ice
Cha
irm
anV
ice
Pres
iden
t, D
irec
tor,
The
Fun
d fo
r th
e A
dvan
cem
ent o
f E
duca
tion
Cla
y P.
Bed
ford
Pres
iden
t, K
aise
r A
eros
pace
& E
lect
roni
csJa
mes
C. D
owns
. Jr.
Pres
iden
t, R
eal E
stat
e R
esea
rch
Cor
pora
tion
Hen
ry D
reyf
uss
Indu
stri
al D
esig
ner
Mor
ris
Dua
neA
ttorn
ey, D
uane
, Mor
ris
and
Hec
ksch
erH
arol
d B
. Gor
esPr
esid
ent,
Edu
catio
nal F
acili
ties
Lab
orat
orie
sFr
eder
ick
L. H
ovde
Pres
iden
t, Pu
rdue
Uni
vers
ityJ.
E. J
onss
onC
hair
man
of
the
Boa
rd, T
exas
Ins
trum
ents
, Inc
.Ph
ilip
M. K
lutz
nick
Klu
tzni
ck E
nter
pris
esJ.
L. M
orri
llC
onsu
ltant
, For
d Fo
unda
tion
Win
thro
p R
ocke
felle
rW
inro
ck F
arm
, Mor
rilto
n, A
rkan
sas
Tho
mas
J. W
atso
n, J
r.C
hair
man
of
the
Boa
rd,
Inte
rnat
iona
l Bus
ines
s M
achi
nes
Cor
pora
tion
Ben
jam
in C
. Will
isG
ener
al S
uper
inte
nden
t of
Scho
ols,
Chi
cago
, Illi
nois
OFF
ICE
RS
Har
old
B. G
ores
, Pre
side
ntJo
nath
an K
ing,
Sec
reta
ry a
nd T
reas
urer
EX
EC
UT
IVE
ST
AFF
Lill
ian
But
ler,
Pub
licat
ions
Ass
ocia
teFr
ank
Car
ioti,
Con
sulta
ntR
ober
t M. D
illon
, AIA
, Con
sulta
ntM
arga
ret F
arm
er, E
dito
rial
Ass
ocia
teR
onal
d W
. Haa
se, A
IA, A
rchi
tect
ural
Ass
ocia
teA
rnol
d J.
Kue
sel,
Ass
ista
nt T
reas
urer
Jam
es J
. Mor
isse
au, E
dito
rial
Ass
ocia
teC
yril
G. S
arge
nt, P
rogr
am S
peci
alis
tR
uth
Wei
nsto
ck, R
esea
rch
Ass
ocia
te
AIR
ST
RU
CT
UR
ES
FOR
SC
HO
OL
SPO
RT
SA
Rep
ort F
rom
Edu
catio
nal
Faci
litie
s L
abor
ator
ies
by N
an R
ober
tson
1 [ . L.
AIR
ST
RU
CT
UR
ES
- bu
ildin
gs b
low
n up
and
hel
d up
by
air
pres
sure
wer
e in
trod
uced
onl
y 10
yea
rs a
go, b
utth
ey h
ave
sinc
e pr
oved
them
selv
es in
a v
arie
ty o
f ap
pli-
catio
ns. T
he m
ilita
ry, w
hich
spo
nsor
ed th
eir
deve
lop-
men
t as
rada
r st
atio
ns, a
lso
uses
them
as
supp
ly d
epot
san
d ev
en a
s ha
ngar
s. I
ndus
try
uses
them
for
war
e-ho
uses
. Res
ort h
otel
s an
d pr
ivat
e at
hlet
ic c
lubs
use
them
as
cold
-wea
ther
cov
ers
for
outd
oor
swim
min
gpo
ols
and
tenn
is c
ourt
s. P
artic
ipan
ts in
the
New
Yor
kW
orld
's F
air
will
use
them
to h
ouse
exh
ibits
. A g
iant
bubb
le o
utsi
de C
hica
go is
use
d as
a s
tadi
um f
or s
port
sev
ents
ran
ging
fro
m ic
e ho
ckey
to w
rest
ling.
In e
ach
case
, the
air
str
uctu
re's
fea
ture
attr
actio
n is
its a
bilit
y to
enc
lose
larg
e ar
eas
quic
kly
and
chea
ply.
The
bas
ic s
truc
tura
l env
elop
ea
skin
that
ser
ves
asbo
th w
alls
and
roo
f, p
lus
atta
chm
ent h
ardw
are
to h
old
the
stru
ctur
e do
wn
and
infl
atio
n eq
uipm
ent t
o ho
ld it
upco
sts
unde
r $2
.00
a sq
uare
foo
t. It
can
be
an-
chor
ed in
pla
ce, b
low
n up
. and
rea
died
for
use
in a
day
.In
eve
n le
ss ti
me,
it c
an b
e de
flat
ed, f
reed
fro
m it
s m
oor-
ings
, fol
ded
like
a te
nt, a
nd s
tore
d or
mov
ed to
ano
ther
site
. Saf
e an
d ea
sy to
car
e fo
r, it
will
last
at l
east
fiv
eye
ars
in c
ontin
uous
ser
vice
, tw
ice
that
if u
sed
only
par
tof
eac
h ye
ar o
r tr
eate
d to
a f
acto
ry r
econ
ditio
ning
.B
ecau
se o
f its
eco
nom
y an
d ve
rsat
ility
, the
air
str
uc-
ture
fits
nea
tly in
to m
any
scho
ols'
spe
cifi
catio
ns f
orph
ysic
al e
duca
tion
faci
litie
s. B
ut u
ntil
1961
, sch
ools
mer
ely
cont
empl
ated
the
bubb
le f
rom
a d
ista
nce.
FOR
EW
OR
D
Tha
t spr
ing,
The
For
man
Sch
ool o
f L
itchf
ield
,C
onne
ctic
ut, s
hook
off
the
blan
ket o
f sn
ow th
at h
ad e
n-gu
lfed
its
cam
pus
all w
inte
r, m
akin
g ou
tdoo
r pl
ay a
llbu
t im
poss
ible
. Its
nee
d fo
r al
l-w
eath
er a
thle
tic f
acil-
ities
eff
ectiv
ely
unde
rlin
ed, F
orm
an c
ast a
bout
for
an
inex
pens
ive
way
of
prov
idin
g en
clos
ed p
lay
spac
e. I
tca
me
up w
ith th
e ai
r st
ruct
ure,
whi
ch lo
oked
pro
mis
ing
enou
gh to
just
ify
a bi
t of
trai
l bla
zing
. The
bub
ble
had,
afte
r al
l, be
en u
sed
for
spor
ts b
efor
e. U
sing
it f
or s
choo
lsp
orts
sho
uld
not p
ose
seri
ous
prob
lem
s.So
For
man
, bac
ked
by a
gra
nt f
rom
EFL
, com
mis
-si
oned
The
Arc
hite
cts
Col
labo
rativ
e to
stu
dy th
e pr
osan
d co
ns o
f ai
r st
ruct
ures
, and
rul
e on
the
feas
ibili
ty o
fus
ing
them
to h
ouse
its
prop
osed
indo
or s
port
s fa
cili-
ties.
At t
he s
ame
time,
the
scho
ol b
egan
con
duct
ing
itsow
n on
-the
-spo
t exp
erim
ents
with
a p
ract
ic-
bubb
lela
unch
ed o
ver
an e
xist
ing
tenn
is c
ourt
.T
his
firs
t bub
ble
did
pose
ser
ious
pro
blem
s. T
wic
e, it
colla
psed
alto
geth
er. B
ut th
e ar
chite
cts'
inve
stig
atio
ns,
addi
tiona
l EFL
-sup
port
ed s
tudi
es o
f sp
ecia
l dif
ficu
lties
with
hea
ting
and
light
ing,
and
For
man
's p
ract
ical
ex-
peri
ence
fin
ally
pai
d of
f. B
y th
e fa
ll of
196
3, tw
o ye
ars
afte
r th
e tr
ial b
allo
on w
ent u
p. F
orm
an w
as th
e pr
oud
poss
esso
r of
two
smoo
thly
fun
ctio
ning
air
str
uctu
res
one
over
a s
wim
min
g po
ol, t
he o
ther
ove
r a
tenn
is c
ourt
that
dou
bles
as
a gy
m.
The
For
man
Sch
ool's
adv
entu
res
with
bub
ble-
cove
red
play
spa
ce, d
escr
ibed
in th
is r
epor
t, sh
ow th
at
4
wel
l-de
sign
ed a
ir s
truc
ture
s ca
n be
rel
iabl
e an
d pr
actic
alen
clos
ures
for
phy
sica
l edu
catio
n. B
ut th
e Fo
rman
chap
ter
is th
e be
ginn
ing
of th
e st
ory,
not
the
end.
Oth
er s
choo
ls, d
raw
ing
on F
orm
an's
exp
erie
nce,
are
now
app
roac
hing
air
str
uctu
res
with
the
conf
iden
ceth
at c
omes
fro
m k
now
ing
in a
dvan
ce w
here
pot
entia
lpr
oble
ms
lurk
and
how
to a
void
them
. And
indu
stry
isre
spon
ding
to th
e ne
wly
ope
ned
educ
atio
nal m
arke
tw
ith n
ew p
rodu
cts
and
mat
eria
ls th
at w
ill m
ake
the
bubb
les
even
mor
e at
trac
tive
to s
choo
ls.
Form
an's
tenn
is c
ourt
bub
ble,
for
exa
mpl
e, is
the
set-
ting
of th
e fi
rst f
ield
test
of
a un
ique
"gr
ass"
with
mol
ded
viny
l pla
stic
"bl
ades
" sp
rout
ing
from
squ
are
plas
tic ti
les.
Neo
-Tur
f w
as o
rigi
nally
dev
elop
ed b
y th
eB
osto
n W
oven
Hos
e C
ompa
ny to
pro
vide
a p
layg
roun
dsu
rfac
e m
ore
child
proo
f th
an g
arde
n-va
riet
y gr
ass,
but
mor
e w
elco
min
g th
an a
spha
lt or
con
cret
e. I
t coi
ncid
en-
tally
pro
vide
s a
wel
l-ni
gh p
erfe
ct s
urfa
ce f
or te
nnis
or s
o sa
y th
e te
nnis
buf
fs w
ho f
lock
to th
e Fo
rman
cou
rtev
ery
day
afte
r sc
hool
.O
f th
e ot
her
deve
lopm
ents
pro
mis
ed f
or th
e ne
ar f
u-tu
re, p
erha
ps th
e m
ost s
igni
fica
nt a
re im
prov
emen
ts in
skin
mat
eria
ls, w
hich
now
lim
it th
e si
ze a
nd s
hape
of
air
stru
ctur
es a
s w
ell a
s th
eir
pote
ntia
l lif
e sp
an. B
y ex
tend
-in
g th
e pr
esen
t lim
its, s
tron
ger,
long
er-l
astin
g fa
bric
sco
uld
also
ext
end
the
bubb
le's
ran
ge o
f ed
ucat
iona
l ap-
plic
atio
ns f
ar b
eyon
d to
day'
s se
ason
al s
helte
rs f
orsp
orts
.E
FL
4
Thi
s is
the
stor
y of
a s
choo
lan
da
bubb
le
The
sch
ool i
s T
he F
orm
an S
choo
lin
Litc
hfie
ld,
Con
nect
icut
, whi
ch b
ring
s its
ont
door
spor
ts f
acili
ties
indo
ors
for
the
win
ter
by b
low
ing
bubb
les
over
them
.T
he f
irst
bub
ble
pion
eere
d th
eus
e of
air
str
uctu
res
for
scho
ol a
thle
tic s
pace
s. P
itche
don
top
of o
ne o
f Fo
r-m
an's
tenn
is c
ourt
s, it
was
als
o us
ed f
or b
aske
tbal
l, in
-fi
eld
base
ball
prac
tice,
and
oth
ersp
orts
.Fo
rman
'; se
cond
bub
ble,
atta
ched
on o
ne s
ide
to a
low
-lyi
ng c
on ,T
entio
nal b
uild
ing,
prov
ides
win
ter
shel
-te
r fo
r an
out
door
sw
imm
ing
pool
, mak
ing
it us
able
all
year
long
. Thi
s fa
ll, s
till a
noth
er b
ubbl
e,a
perm
anen
tre
plac
emen
t for
the
firs
t,w
ent u
p ov
er 7
,200
squ
are
feet
of a
rtif
icia
l gra
ss, t
he p
last
iceq
uiva
lent
of
a ca
refu
llym
anic
ured
gol
f gr
een.
The
new
bub
ble-
cove
red
play
ing
fiel
d is
des
igne
d pr
imar
ily f
orte
nnis
. (Pe
rman
ent l
ines
of w
hite
"gr
ass"
del
inea
te th
ete
nnis
cou
rt.)
But
it to
ois
use
d fo
r ba
sket
ball,
vol
leyb
all,
and
badm
into
n by
mar
king
off
the
prop
erco
urts
with
mas
king
tape
.T
he b
ubbl
e is
ane
w id
ea in
bui
ldin
ga
stru
ctur
esu
ppor
ted
sole
ly b
y ai
rpr
essu
re, i
n w
hich
ski
n an
d sk
el-
eton
are
one
. It c
an b
e qu
ickl
y in
flat
edor
def
late
d, li
kea
big
ballo
on. V
ery
slig
ht c
ontin
ual
pres
sure
fro
mbl
ower
fan
s w
ill h
old
itup
. Whe
n do
wn,
it c
an b
efo
lded
into
a c
ompa
ct p
arce
l and
stor
ed, o
r ta
ken
to a
n-ot
her
site
for
rei
nfla
tion.
The
bubb
le c
an lo
ok li
ke a
dom
e or
a g
iant
bra
twur
st s
liced
in h
alf.
In
its s
impl
est
form
, it i
s an
chor
edsn
ug to
the
grou
nd li
ke a
tent
with
the
eart
h se
rvin
gas
a f
loor
. Its
mos
t pra
ctic
al s
kin
to
date
has
bee
n w
hite
, tra
nslu
cent
, vin
yl-c
oate
dny
lon.
The
ski
n ca
n ro
of b
ig o
utdo
orar
eas
and
shel
ter
both
men
and
thin
gs f
rom
rai
n, s
now
, win
d, a
nd h
itter
cold
.Fo
r a
deca
de, t
he U
.S. A
rmy
has
been
usi
ng a
ir-
supp
orte
d st
ruct
ures
to h
ouse
rad
areq
uipm
ent a
long
the
Dis
tant
Ear
ly W
arni
ng li
nein
the
Arc
tic. O
ther
,m
ore
rece
nt b
ubbl
es c
over
the
Tel
star
ante
nnae
inM
aine
and
nor
ther
n Fr
ance
,ou
tdoo
r sw
imm
ing
pool
sin
Atla
ntic
City
, New
Jer
sey,
and
tenn
is c
ourt
s in
Nor
-w
alk,
Con
nect
icut
. At l
east
two
will
go
up o
ver
exhi
bits
at th
e 19
64 N
ew Y
ork
Wor
ld's
Fai
r.N
ow, s
choo
ls a
re b
egin
ning
to e
ye th
e bu
bble
uith
fasc
inat
ion
as a
new
way
toco
ver
spac
e fo
r ph
ysir
al e
thi-
catio
n. T
he F
orm
an S
choo
l was
the
firs
t edu
catio
nal i
n-st
itutio
n to
act
ually
try
it.
A C
LIM
AT
E F
OR
EY
:PE
RIM
EN
T
Form
an. w
hich
lies
insi
de th
e "p
rep
scho
olbe
lt" o
fw
este
rn C
onne
ctic
ut, i
s no
t nea
rly
so w
ealth
y no
r so
old
as o
ther
nea
rby
prep
sch
ools
Hot
chki
ss, S
alis
bury
,C
hoat
e, T
aft,
and
Ken
t, to
nam
e a
few
. It w
as f
ound
edin
193
0 an
d ha
s 17
5 st
uden
tson
two
cam
puse
s. T
here
are
105
boys
and
70
girl
s fr
om th
e se
vent
h th
roug
h th
etw
elft
h gr
ades
. The
gir
ls lu
nch
and
go to
cla
sses
with
the
boys
on
thei
r ca
mpu
s, w
hich
con
sist
sof
nin
e pr
etty
,bu
t mod
est,
Col
onia
l-st
yle
build
ings
in c
lapb
oard
,st
one,
and
red
bri
ck a
top
a L
ill o
n th
e ed
ge o
fto
wn.
The
tent
h is
the
Com
mon
s B
uild
ing,
now
und
er c
onst
ruc-
5
6
tion.
Bes
ide
it ne
stle
s th
e sw
imm
ing
pool
bub
ble.
The
typi
cal A
mer
ican
pre
p sc
hool
bui
lds
the
"all-
arou
nd b
oy,"
-w
ith e
mph
asis
on
spor
ts a
s w
ell a
s st
udy,
and
Form
an is
no
exce
ptio
n. A
s de
vote
es o
f th
e ru
gged
life,
For
man
stu
dent
s pr
efer
to p
lay
outd
oors
muc
h of
the
win
ter
skat
ing,
ski
ing,
and
sle
ddin
g. B
ut th
ew
inte
r of
196
0-61
for
ced
even
the
Form
an b
oys
indo
ors.
"We
had
snow
up
to o
ur e
ars,
" re
calls
Sto
wel
l Mea
rs,
the
scho
ol's
Dir
ecto
r of
Dev
elop
men
t. Si
nce
Form
an d
idno
t hav
e a
gym
, bas
ketb
all a
nd o
ther
gam
es w
crc
play
edat
a n
earb
y Y
MC
A.
The
sch
ool d
id n
ot h
ave
a gy
m f
or tw
o rc
ason
s. F
irst
,gy
mna
sium
s ar
e am
ong
the
mor
e ex
pens
ive
faci
litie
s a
scho
ol c
an b
uild
. Bec
ause
they
nee
d lo
ng-s
pan
stru
c-tu
rcs
cove
ring
larg
e ar
eas,
thei
r m
inim
um c
ost i
s ab
out
$200
,000
mor
e th
an F
orm
an c
ould
aff
ord
to s
pend
.Se
cond
, For
man
's f
orm
er g
ym, l
ong
sinc
e co
nver
ted
toa
dini
ng h
all,
had
been
use
d fo
r sp
orts
onl
y tw
o to
thrc
eho
urs
a da
y. T
o bu
ild a
per
man
ent g
ym s
o co
stly
and
solit
tle u
sed
wou
ld b
e hi
ghly
inef
fici
ent.
Yet
she
ltere
d pl
aysp
ace
wou
ld :i
e hi
ghly
des
irab
le, a
t lea
st f
or p
art o
f th
esc
hool
yea
r.Sh
ortly
aft
er th
at s
now
boun
d w
inte
r, M
r. M
ears
hear
d ab
out a
ir-s
uppo
rted
str
uctu
res
from
the
fath
er o
fa
Form
an s
tude
nt. T
he s
truc
turc
s w
cre
not o
nly
port
a-bl
e, li
ght,
and
firc
proo
f, s
aid
the
parc
ntth
cy w
ere
chca
p. A
bub
ble
big
cnou
gh to
cov
er a
tenn
is c
ourt
wou
ld c
ost a
bout
$10
,000
. It w
ould
last
eas
ily 5
to 7
year
s. B
ack
to th
e fa
ctor
y fo
r a
retr
cad,
it w
ould
per
-fo
rm w
ell 8
to 1
1 ye
ars.
It s
cem
ed th
at F
orm
an h
ad f
inal
ly li
cked
the
prob
-le
m o
f a
prov
isio
nal g
ymna
sium
. Mr.
Mca
rs w
ent t
o a
ncar
by s
uppl
ier
of a
ir-s
uppo
rted
str
uctu
res,
Dav
id P
.Z
amor
c of
Mon
tcla
ir, N
ew je
rsey
, and
bro
ught
bac
k a
bubb
le to
try
out.
EV
OL
UT
ION
OF
A B
UB
BL
EA
lthou
gh th
c fi
rst e
xper
imen
ts in
roo
fing
larg
e ar
eas
with
air
-sup
port
cd s
kins
dat
e ba
ck to
191
7, it
was
mor
cth
an 3
0 ye
ars
bcfo
rc s
uch
stru
ctur
cs b
ccam
e pr
actic
al.
In 1
946,
whe
n th
e U
nite
d St
ates
Air
For
ce w
as s
eeki
nga
new
way
of
hous
ing
thc
larg
e ra
dar
ante
nnae
pla
nned
for
the
Arc
tic, i
t cam
e to
thc
Cor
nell
Aer
onau
tical
Lab
-or
ator
y in
Buf
falo
, New
Yor
k. T
he la
bora
tory
sug
gest
edan
air
-sup
port
ed s
truc
ture
. For
the
next
two
ycar
s, a
team
dir
ecte
d by
a y
oung
aer
onau
tical
eng
inee
r, W
alte
rW
. Bir
d, d
esig
ned,
bui
lt, a
nd s
ucce
ssfu
lly tc
stcd
thc
ra-
dom
e pr
otot
ypes
. By
1954
, the
mili
tary
's n
ew p
last
ic-
coat
ed b
ubbl
es w
crc
scat
tcrc
d by
the
hund
reds
acr
oss
tLc
Uni
ted
Stat
es a
nd C
anad
a.T
hen,
in 1
956,
Wal
ter
Bir
d an
d a
few
of
his
col-
leag
ues
stru
ck o
ut o
n th
cir
own,
for
med
Bir
dair
Str
uc-
ture
s, I
nc.,
and
bega
n pr
oduc
ing
civi
lian
bubb
les.
Now
,th
ere
arc
abou
t 40
Bir
dair
bub
bles
in c
omm
erci
al a
ndin
dust
rial
usc
in th
e U
nite
d St
ates
, plu
s do
zens
of
sim
i-la
r st
ruct
ures
pro
duce
d by
oth
cr m
anuf
actu
rers
who
have
ent
ered
the
fiel
d. A
nd a
n in
dust
ry a
ssoc
iatio
n, th
eA
ir S
truc
ture
s M
anuf
actu
rers
and
Sup
plie
rs A
ssoc
ia-
tion,
has
bee
n fo
rmed
to r
aise
and
mai
ntai
n st
anda
rds
for
air-
supp
orte
d bu
ildin
gs.
But
ther
e is
stil
l wid
espr
ead
mis
unde
rsta
ndin
g ab
out
wha
t the
bub
bles
can
and
can
not d
o. A
s W
alte
r B
ird
re-
cent
ly p
oint
ed o
ut: "
It m
ust b
e re
cogn
ized
by
othe
rsan
d ou
rsel
ves
that
fur
ther
res
earc
h an
d de
velo
pmen
tar
e re
quir
ed b
efor
e th
ese
stru
ctur
es b
ecom
e fo
olpr
oof.
"T
he F
orm
an S
choo
l bub
bles
mak
e a
sign
ific
ant c
on-
trib
utio
n to
this
res
earc
h an
d de
velo
pmen
t wor
k fo
rse
vera
l rea
sons
:1.
The
y ar
e pi
onee
rs in
the
educ
atio
nal f
ield
.2.
The
fir
st, o
ver
the
tenn
is c
ourt
, was
a c
lass
ic te
stca
se o
f an
air
str
uctu
re e
xpos
ed to
unu
sual
ly s
e-ve
re c
ondi
tions
, bot
h na
tura
l and
man
-mad
e.3.
Pro
fess
iona
l arc
hite
cts
and
engi
neer
s re
fine
d an
dpe
rfec
ted
Stow
ell M
ears
' sol
utio
ns to
the
prob
lem
spo
sed
by th
e fi
rst b
ubbl
e, a
nd in
corp
orat
ed th
emin
to th
e se
cond
bub
ble
over
the
outd
oor
swim
-m
ing
pool
and
the
thir
d bu
bble
ove
r th
e ne
wpl
astic
-tur
fed
tenn
is c
ourt
.T
he p
rofe
ssio
nals
wer
e T
he A
rchi
tect
s C
olla
bora
tive
of C
ambr
idge
, Mas
sach
uset
ts, w
ho w
ere
enga
ged
byFo
rman
to in
vest
igat
e th
e fe
asib
ility
of
air-
supp
orte
dst
ruct
ures
for
indo
or a
thle
tic f
acili
ties.
The
fea
sibi
lity
stud
y w
as m
ade
poss
ible
1,,,
, a g
rant
fro
m E
duca
tiona
lFa
cilit
ies
Lab
orat
orie
s, w
hich
als
o su
ppor
ted
late
r
stud
ies
of th
e sp
ecia
l pro
blem
s th
at a
rose
with
ligh
ting
and
heat
ing
the
bubb
les,
and
con
trib
uted
to th
e de
vel-
opm
ent o
f th
e tu
rf-f
loor
ed b
ubbl
e, a
noth
er p
roto
type
.O
n th
e ba
sis
of th
e ar
chite
cts'
res
earc
h, a
nd it
s ow
npr
actic
al e
xper
ienc
e w
ith B
ubbl
e N
o. 1
, For
man
de-
cide
d th
at th
e ad
vant
ages
of
air-
supp
orte
d st
ruct
ures
far
outw
eigh
ed a
ny d
isad
vant
ages
. Sin
ce a
ll th
e im
por-
tant
less
ons
had
been
lear
ned
with
the
firs
t bub
ble,
itco
uld
safe
ly p
roce
ed w
ith B
ubbl
es N
o. 2
and
3.
TH
E B
UB
BL
E T
HA
T B
UR
STB
ubbl
e N
o. 1
was
bes
et w
ith tr
oubl
es f
or s
ever
alre
ason
s. T
o be
gin
with
, the
fir
st b
ubbl
e w
as e
rect
ed o
ver
the
low
est o
f th
ree
tenn
is c
ourt
s th
at m
arch
sta
irst
epdo
wn
a st
eep
hill.
The
cou
rts
abov
e it
wer
e fr
ozen
dur
-in
g th
e w
inte
r fo
r a
skat
ing
rink
. Whe
n th
aws
cam
e,w
ater
cas
cade
d do
wn
the
hill,
see
ping
und
er th
e ci
rcul
arap
ron
that
lay
tuck
ed a
ll ar
ound
und
er th
e bu
bble
, fla
ton
the
grou
nd, a
nd f
lood
ing
the
cour
t. M
r. M
ears
'te
mpo
rary
sol
utio
n to
the
drai
nage
pro
blem
was
topa
ck s
andb
ags
alon
g th
e si
de o
f th
e bu
bble
as
a di
ke.
Gua
rdin
g B
ubbl
e N
o. 1
fro
m f
ierc
e gu
sts
swoo
ping
dow
n ov
er th
e hi
ll an
d up
the
narr
ow v
alle
y w
asan
othe
r m
atte
r. T
he w
eeke
nd b
efor
e N
ew Y
ear's
Day
,19
63, t
enni
s w
as b
eing
pla
yed
insi
de th
e st
ruct
ure
whi
lew
inds
off
icia
lly r
egis
tere
d at
ove
r 90
mph
wer
e ra
ging
outs
ide.
The
pla
yers
wer
e un
cons
ciou
s of
the
stor
m. B
ut10
min
utes
aft
er th
ey le
ft, t
he b
ubbl
e be
gan
to c
olla
pse.
7
Thi
s do
es n
ot m
ean
that
air
-sup
port
ed s
truc
ture
sca
n-no
t with
stan
d hi
gh w
inds
. Tes
ters
at t
he U
.S. A
rmy
Nat
ick
Lab
orat
orie
s, N
atic
k, M
assa
chus
etts
, hav
e fo
und
that
taut
bub
oles
can
res
ist w
inds
a.; h
igh
as 1
00 m
ph,
rock
ing
slig
htly
with
the
punc
h. B
ut s
houl
d th
ere
bean
y "d
impl
ing"
of
the
stru
ctur
e be
caus
e of
big
!ea
ks,
heav
y sn
ow lo
ads,
or
insu
ffic
ient
air
pres
sure
, the
bub
ble
is in
trou
ble.
Fab
ric
whi
plas
hes
will
dev
.21o
p. I
f th
ere
are
any
shar
p pr
otru
sion
s on
equ
ipm
ent i
nsid
e, a
fla
bby
skin
may
tear
on
them
in w
indy
wea
ther
,or
rip
s m
ay b
e-gi
n al
ong
the
seam
s an
d co
ntin
ue u
ncon
trol
labl
y. T
hebu
bble
will
then
sin
k sl
owly
to th
e vr
ound
.T
he v
illai
n in
the
Dec
embe
r st
orm
at F
orm
anw
as a
defe
ctiv
e do
or. T
his
sing
le d
oor,
ope
ning
out
war
d be
-ca
use
of C
onne
ctic
ut f
ire
law
s, w
as h
eld
clos
ed b
y a
sim
-pl
e sn
ap lo
ck. B
efor
e de
liver
y, th
e ja
mb
had
been
bow
ed a
way
fro
m th
e la
tch.
The
re w
as n
o bo
ltto
lock
the
door
. Thi
s w
as th
e w
eak
link
that
col
laps
ed B
ubbl
eN
o. 1
. A s
udde
n gu
st s
ucke
d t h
e do
or o
pen
and
pres
sure
fell
insi
de. F
or tw
o da
ys, t
he r
agin
g st
orm
toss
ed th
e de
-fl
ated
ski
n ab
out o
n its
moo
ring
s. T
he w
ound
ed b
ubbl
eha
d to
be
sent
aw
ay f
or r
epai
rs.
Oth
er p
robl
ems
Form
an e
ncou
nter
ed w
ith B
ubbl
eN
o. 1
can
be
trac
ed to
a la
ck o
f in
form
atio
n ab
out t
heha
ndlin
g an
d op
erat
ion
of a
ir-s
uppo
rted
stru
ctur
es f
orsp
orts
. Bec
ause
the
appl
icat
ion
was
a n
ew o
ne, M
r.M
ears
cou
ld n
ot d
raw
on
the
expe
rien
ce o
f ot
hers
. He
had
to f
igur
e ou
t for
him
self
how
to li
ght t
he b
ubbl
e
8
pi o
perl
y fo
r tc
nnis
, how
to h
eat i
t, an
d ho
w to
pro
tect
the
blow
ers
from
suf
foca
tion
by h
eaN
y s
now
falls
.In
spi
te o
f th
ese
diff
icul
ties
thou
gh, t
he g
ood
poin
ts o
fai
i--s
uppo
rted
str
uctu
res
also
em
erge
d cl
earl
y du
ring
Form
an's
two
win
ters
with
Bub
ble
No.
I. T
hese
fea
-tu
res
mak
e th
em a
ppea
ling
for
cam
puse
s: T
hey
are
safe
and
com
fort
able
, eas
y to
put
up
and
take
dow
n, a
nddu
rabl
e. A
bove
all,
they
are
inex
pens
ive.
TH
E C
OST
PIC
TU
RE
In th
eir
feas
ibili
ty s
tudy
, the
arc
hite
cts
com
pare
d in
i-tia
l cos
ts o
f a
lam
inat
ed w
ood-
dom
ed f
ield
hous
e,a
con-
vent
iona
l gym
nasi
um, a
geo
desi
c-do
med
fie
ldho
tise,
and
a si
ngle
-wal
l, ai
r-su
ppor
ted
stru
ctur
e.*
Eac
h bu
ildin
gco
vere
d ab
out t
he s
ame
gros
s fl
oor
area
from
31,
600
to 3
5,80
0 sq
uare
fee
t.T
he c
ost f
or th
e w
ood-
dom
ed f
ield
hous
cw
as $
209,
100
or $
6.53
per
squ
are
foot
. The
con
vent
iona
l gym
cos
t$2
61,8
00 o
r S8
.28
per
squa
re f
oot.
The
geo
desi
c fi
eld-
hous
e co
st $
298,
400
or $
8.34
per
squ
are
foot
. The
bub
-bl
e, in
clud
ing
skin
, fab
rica
tion,
blo
wer
equ
ipm
ent,
the
arro
whe
ad a
ncho
rs a
nd c
able
s th
at f
ix it
to th
e gr
ound
,an
d au
xilia
ry p
ower
, cam
e to
$74
,200
or $
2.14
per
squa
re f
oot.
*To
perm
it a
valid
com
pari
son,
onl
y th
e co
st o
f th
e fi
nish
edst
ruct
ural
env
elop
e, in
clud
ing
dayl
ight
ing,
and
, in
the
case
of
the
air-
supp
orte
d st
ruct
ure,
bas
ic in
flat
ion
equi
pmen
t, w
asco
nsid
ered
.
The
n th
e ar
chite
cts
com
pare
d co
sts
of in
door
sw
im-
min
g po
ols
hous
ed in
con
vent
iona
l str
uctu
res
with
the
bubb
le-c
over
ed p
ool p
lann
ed f
or th
e Fo
rman
Sch
ool.
The
est
imat
ed c
ost o
f a
75 b
y 42
foo
t ind
oor
pool
pro
-po
sed
for
Scar
sdal
e H
igh
Scho
ol, S
cars
dale
, New
Yor
k,w
as $
250,
000
or a
bout
$26
per
squ
are
foot
. A s
light
lysm
alle
r hi
gh s
choo
l poo
l at U
nion
dale
, Lon
g Is
land
,N
ew Y
ork,
als
o to
tale
d $2
50,0
00 in
cos
t, ab
out $
32 p
ersq
uare
foo
t. Fo
rman
's p
ool,
the
sam
e si
ze a
s th
e on
e pr
o-po
sed
for
Scar
sdal
e, w
as b
uilt
and
cove
red
for
only
$61,
300
or $
9.38
per
squ
are
foot
. (A
ll co
sts
are
excl
usiv
eof
sho
wer
s, lo
cker
s, s
pect
ator
sea
ting,
hea
ting
plan
t,an
d ou
tsid
e fa
cilit
ies.
)B
ut in
itial
cos
ts a
re n
ot th
e w
hole
sto
ry. A
sec
ond
cost
cons
ider
atio
n is
that
bub
bles
are
eas
y to
hea
t bec
ause
ther
e is
not
hing
but
air
to w
arm
. Con
vent
iona
l bui
ld-
ings
, bec
ause
of
thei
r m
ass,
nee
d co
nsta
nt h
eatin
g. A
nor
dina
ry g
ymna
sium
, if
allo
wed
to c
ool o
ff e
ntir
ely
dur-
ing
peri
ods
whe
n it
is n
ot in
usc
, tak
es a
long
tim
e to
re-
heat
to th
e re
quir
ed te
mpe
ratu
re. N
ot s
o a
bubb
le.
Mr.
Mea
rs a
t fir
st u
sed
two
spac
e he
ater
s w
hich
zoom
ed th
e te
mpe
ratu
re in
side
Bub
ble
No.
1 to
the
de-
sire
d le
vel f
or s
port
s w
ithin
5 to
10
min
utes
. He
late
rab
ando
ned
thes
e ke
rose
ne h
eate
rs, t
houg
h, b
ecau
se th
eyw
ere
dirt
y, d
epos
iting
soo
t on
the
bubb
le s
kin,
and
nois
y, th
eir
roar
agg
rava
ted
by th
e ec
ho q
ualit
y of
bub
-bl
es. D
urin
g th
e se
cond
win
ter,
fol
low
ing
the
reco
m-
men
datio
n of
hea
ting
cons
ulta
nts
Fitz
mey
er &
Toe
d of
Bos
ton,
he
subs
titut
ed a
hig
h vo
lum
e, lo
w v
eloc
ity, h
otai
r fu
rnac
e w
hich
bro
ught
Bub
ble
No.
1 u
p to
40
de-
gree
s ov
er o
utsi
de te
mpe
ratu
re w
ithin
abo
ut 1
5 m
in-
utes
, hea
ting
it qu
ietly
and
cle
anly
as
wel
l as
quic
kly.
The
sam
e fu
rnac
e ha
s w
orke
d eq
ually
wel
l in
the
new
tenn
is b
ubbl
e ex
cept
on
extr
emel
y co
ld d
ays.
For
man
expe
cts
to tr
y us
ing
so-c
alle
d "p
eopl
e he
ater
s" a
s a
sup-
plem
enta
ry h
eat s
ourc
e du
ring
Litc
hfie
ld's
occ
asio
nal
spel
ls o
f su
b-ze
ro w
eath
er. T
hese
rad
iant
hca
ters
war
mob
ject
s in
thei
r pa
th b
ut n
ot th
e su
rrou
ndin
g ai
r, s
oth
ere
is n
o tim
e la
g at
all.
The
sch
ool a
lso
hope
s to
ex-
peri
men
t with
a la
rger
fur
nace
who
se f
ans
coul
d do
uble
as in
flat
ion
equi
pmen
t, th
us s
avin
g th
e co
st o
f at
leas
ton
e bl
ower
.Fo
rman
Bub
ble
No.
2, w
hich
is o
ver
wat
er, p
rcse
nted
diff
eren
t hea
ting
prob
lem
s fr
om th
c la
nd-b
ased
No.
I.
If th
e bu
bble
was
not
kep
t hea
ted
duri
ng th
e po
ol's
in-
activ
e pe
riod
, the
wat
er w
ould
rap
idly
lose
its
heat
toth
e co
olin
g ai
r. I
f th
c w
atcr
was
allo
wed
to c
ool,
itw
ould
take
a lo
ng ti
me
to h
eat i
t for
poo
l usc
. For
this
reas
on th
e ar
chitc
cts
deci
ded
it w
ould
bc
bette
r to
kec
pbo
th th
e po
ol a
nd th
e ai
r in
side
the
bubb
le h
eate
d ev
enw
hen
it w
as n
ot in
use
. So
hcat
ing
cost
s fo
r th
e sw
im-
min
g po
ol b
ubbl
e ar
e m
uch
high
er th
an f
or a
tcnn
isco
urt o
r ba
sket
ball
bubb
le, w
hich
nee
ds n
o ad
vanc
ew
arm
-up
time.
A r
eal c
ost a
dvan
tage
of
bubb
les
for
cove
ring
sw
im-
min
g po
ols
is th
at a
ir s
truc
ture
s do
not
det
crio
rate
or
9
10
requ
ire
expe
nsiv
e up
keep
bec
ause
of
cond
ensa
tion.
Stee
l will
rus
t. W
ood
will
mol
d. P
aint
will
cra
ck, b
liste
r,an
d pe
el. B
ut th
e bu
bble
's v
inyl
-coa
ted
nylo
n sk
in is
unaf
fect
ed b
y m
oist
ure,
and
unl
ike
som
e po
ol c
over
s, it
does
not
let w
ater
that
for
ms
on th
e ce
iling
dri
p do
wn
on s
pect
ator
s or
loun
gers
by
the
pool
. Bec
ause
of
the
bubb
le's
sha
pe, m
ost o
f th
e co
nden
satio
n w
ater
rol
lsri
ght d
own
the
side
s. A
ll bu
t a li
ttie
of th
e re
st s
houl
dbe
eva
pora
ted
by th
e ai
r ci
rcul
ated
fro
m th
e bl
ower
s.
EA
SY U
P, E
ASY
DO
WN
Ord
inar
ily, i
t tak
es o
ne d
ay a
nd s
ix m
en to
put
up
abu
bble
. At F
orm
an, w
here
ther
e w
as u
nlim
ited
boy
pow
er, t
he jo
b w
ent f
aste
r. I
f th
e bu
bble
is to
be
infl
ated
ever
ear
th, m
etal
arr
owhe
ad a
ncho
rs a
ttach
ed to
cab
les
are
driv
en b
y ja
ck h
amm
ers
into
the
dirt
or
gras
s. T
hese
anch
ors
wer
e su
nk a
bout
31/
2 fe
et b
elow
gro
und.
The
nth
ey a
re "
dead
-hea
ded"
pulle
d to
a h
oriz
onta
l pos
i-tio
n by
ano
ther
sim
ple
cont
riva
nce
and
fixe
d to
the
botto
m o
f th
e bu
bble
by
the
uppe
r en
ds o
f th
e ca
bles
,w
hich
are
run
thro
ugh
met
al-r
einf
orce
d ho
les
in th
ebu
bble
-ski
n. A
bout
80
anch
ors
set t
hree
fee
t apa
rt h
eld
dow
n Fo
rman
Bub
ble
No.
I th
roug
h tw
o w
inte
rs o
fst
orm
s, w
ind,
and
fla
ppin
g of
the
fabr
ic w
hen
the
bub-
ble
was
par
tly d
efla
ted.
Ano
ther
for
m o
f an
chor
age,
use
d if
the
bubb
le is
tobe
bas
ed f
lat o
n co
ncre
te, c
an b
e se
en a
t Atla
ntic
City
swim
min
g po
ols
surr
ound
ed b
y bi
g, o
utdo
or s
un d
ecks
.
Def
late
d, a
n ai
r st
ruct
ure
big
enou
gh to
cov
era
tenn
is c
ourt
rol
ls u
p in
to a
com
pact
,ea
sy-t
o-st
ore
pack
age.
Bel
ow: S
wim
min
g po
ol b
ubbl
e is
bo!
ted
to c
oncr
ete
ledg
e ar
ound
poo
l dec
k, th
en in
flat
ed
Her
e, B
irda
ir r
uns
a ho
llow
tube
thro
ugh
the
bubb
le's
hem
line
betw
een
two
thic
knes
ses
of f
abri
c. T
he tu
bean
d th
e he
mlin
e ar
e pu
nctu
ated
with
mat
chin
g ho
les.
Thr
ough
thes
e, b
olts
are
run
, fas
teni
ng in
to v
ertic
altu
bes
that
hav
e be
en d
rille
d de
ep in
to th
e co
ncre
te.
Oth
er a
ttach
men
t con
ditio
ns (
and
othe
r bu
bble
man
-uf
actu
rers
) m
ay c
all f
or o
ther
way
s of
mak
ing
a fa
st,
firm
con
nect
ion
betw
een
the
bubb
le a
nd it
s ba
se. T
hebu
bble
ove
r th
e Fo
rman
poo
l is
bolte
d to
the
top
of a
conc
rete
dik
e th
at e
nclo
ses
the
pool
dec
k. T
he n
ew te
n-ni
s co
urt b
ubbl
e, li
ke th
e fi
rst,
uses
arr
owhe
ad a
ncho
rsat
the
ends
. At t
he s
ides
, tho
ugh,
the
cabl
es r
unni
ngth
roug
h th
e bu
bble
's h
em a
re a
ttach
ed to
"de
adm
en"
heav
y st
eel c
olum
ns p
lace
d in
long
tren
ches
in-
stea
d of
to a
rrow
head
anc
hors
.A
ncho
ring
is d
one
whi
le th
e bu
bble
is d
efla
ted.
Usi
ngtw
o 1/
2-ho
rsep
ower
blo
wer
s, th
e st
ruct
ure
can
then
be
blow
n up
like
a b
allo
on. T
his
may
take
fro
m 3
0 m
inut
esto
3 h
ours
for
a b
ubbl
e bi
g en
ough
to c
over
a p
ool o
rte
nnis
cou
rt. T
hirt
y m
inut
es to
an
hour
is th
e m
ore
com
mon
exp
erie
nce.
A lo
nger
per
iod
may
mea
n a
leak
,pe
rhap
s th
roug
h a
bubb
le e
ntra
nce,
or
the
fans
may
not
be w
orki
ng to
cap
acity
. Onc
e th
e bu
bble
is u
p, c
ontin
u-ou
s ai
r pr
essu
re f
rom
the
blow
ers
keep
s it
up.
The
bub
ble
is ta
ken
dow
n by
a r
ever
se p
roce
ss. F
irst
it is
col
laps
ed b
y st
oppi
ng th
e po
wer
and
ope
ning
the
door
. Cab
les
are
unhi
tche
d an
d th
e bu
bble
fol
ded
like
a gi
ant h
andk
erch
ief
into
the
smal
lest
pos
sibl
e pa
cket
.
r7Pr
--.=
sj
447'
a
Whe
n B
ubbl
e N
o. 1
arr
ived
at F
orm
an, t
he h
uge
stru
ctur
e w
as c
onta
ined
in a
wra
pped
bur
lap
pack
age
10 f
eet l
ong,
5 f
eet w
ide,
and
4 f
eet h
igh.
Whe
n de
flat
edan
d fo
lded
for
sto
rage
by
amat
eurs
itw
as b
igge
rab
out 1
5 fe
et lo
ng a
nd 6
fee
t wid
e. T
his,
how
ever
, was
narr
ow e
noug
h to
be
hois
ted
insi
de a
truc
k.
TH
E S
AFE
TY
FA
CT
OR
Unl
ike
thei
r so
apy
nam
esak
es, n
ylon
bub
bles
are
not
frag
ile. T
he v
inyl
-coa
ted
fabr
ic is
rem
arka
bly
stro
ngan
d re
sist
ant t
o va
ndal
ism
or
mis
hand
ling.
For
a m
anto
tear
it w
ith a
kni
fe, h
e m
ust f
orce
the
knif
eev
ery
inch
of
the
way
. The
mai
nso
urce
of
fabr
ic w
eakn
ess
isth
e se
ams
of th
e bu
bble
ski
n. T
hese
ams
are
over
lapp
edan
d he
at-s
eale
d, s
o th
ey a
re s
tron
ger
than
sew
n se
ams,
but e
ven
elec
tron
ical
ly w
elde
dse
ams
may
rip
if th
e bu
b-bl
e is
par
tly d
efla
ted
and
lash
ed b
y hi
gh w
inds
.Si
nce
seri
ous
rips
are
oft
en s
tart
ed b
y th
e fa
bric
's c
atch
ing
ona
shar
p pr
otru
sion
insi
de th
e bu
bble
, an
obvi
ous
pre-
caut
ion
is n
ot to
hav
e sh
arp
prot
rusi
ons
insi
de. A
noth
erm
ight
be
rip
stop
s co
nsis
ting
ofm
ore
seam
s cr
oss-
hatc
hing
the
orig
inal
sea
ms,
as in
the
quilt
ing
tech
-ni
que
used
for
bub
bles
mad
e by
the
G.
T. S
chel
dahl
Com
pany
of
Nor
thfi
eld,
Min
neso
ta.
The
obj
ect i
n bo
th c
ases
is to
kee
p lit
tle r
ips
from
be-
com
ing
big
ones
. Bec
ause
they
are
supp
orte
d by
eno
ugh
pres
sure
to c
ompe
nsat
e fo
r so
me
leak
age
thro
ugh
the
pore
s of
the
skin
, bub
bles
can
sur
vive
a n
umbe
r of
sm
all
11
12
punc
ture
s. A
nd a
s lo
ng a
s pu
nctu
res
or te
ars
rem
ain
smal
l, th
ey c
an b
e re
pair
ed e
asily
. Thi
s is
don
e w
itha
patc
h m
ade
from
the
sam
e m
ater
ial,
whi
ch is
app
lied
toth
e in
side
of
the
skin
with
the
bubb
le in
flat
ed. F
irst
,a
heav
y co
at o
f vi
nyl c
emen
t is
brus
hed
on a
nd a
llow
ed to
dry
an h
our.
The
na
cozy
, dom
estic
touc
hth
epa
tch
is m
ated
to th
e fa
bric
by
iron
ing
ifon
with
a r
eg-
ular
hom
e ir
on s
et a
t "w
ool,"
or
300
degr
ees
Fahr
enhe
it.D
urin
g th
e ir
onin
g a
boar
d sh
ould
be
held
aga
inst
the
spot
by
som
eone
out
side
the
bubb
le.
As
Form
an d
isco
vere
d on
two
occa
sion
s du
ring
its
ad-
vent
ures
with
Bub
ble
No.
1, b
ubbl
es c
an a
nd s
omet
imes
do c
olla
pse,
but
they
are
not
dan
gero
us e
ven
whe
nm
orta
lly w
ound
ed. I
n th
e ca
se o
f po
wer
or
equi
pmen
tfa
ilure
whi
ch c
an b
e ea
sily
avo
ided
by
prov
idin
gst
andb
y ge
nera
tors
and
blo
wer
sth
e st
ruct
ure
take
sat
leas
t tw
o ho
urs
to s
ettle
to th
e gr
ound
. If
a la
rge
rip
occu
rs, t
he b
ubbl
e m
ay g
o do
wn
fast
er b
ut th
ere
is v
ir-
tual
ly n
o po
ssib
ility
that
a p
erso
n co
uld
be tr
appe
dun
der
it fo
r lo
ng. A
nyon
e ca
n w
alk
out f
rom
und
era
burs
t bub
ble,
lift
ing
up th
e de
flat
ed s
kin
with
his
han
dsas
he
goes
. And
acc
ordi
ng to
Bir
dair
and
oth
ers
with
long
exp
erie
nce
with
air
-sup
port
ed s
truc
ture
s, th
e co
l-la
pse
of a
bub
ble
has
neve
r ca
used
an
inju
ry.
Dan
ger
from
fir
e is
als
o as
nea
r ze
ro a
s it
can
be. T
hebu
bble
ski
n w
ill n
ot c
atch
fir
e. T
hrou
gh p
rolo
nged
ex-
posu
re to
an
inte
nse
heat
sou
rce,
suc
h as
a n
earb
y qu
artz
lam
p, th
e fa
bric
cou
ld c
once
ivab
ly s
izzl
e, a
nd, a
sm
all
Spec
tato
rs a
nd in
stru
ctor
s ca
n w
atch
pool
act
iviti
es in
dry
com
fort
fro
m v
iew
ing
area
insi
de a
djac
ent c
omm
ons
build
ing
hole
mig
ht b
e bu
rnt t
hrou
gh. I
f th
is h
appe
ned,
thou
gh,
the
pres
suri
zed
air
insi
de w
ould
rus
h ou
t thr
ough
the
hole
, snu
ffin
g ou
t the
fla
me
as a
cig
aret
te s
mok
er b
low
sou
t a m
atch
. Ext
ensi
ve f
ire
test
s ha
ve b
een
run
on th
ebu
bble
s by
thei
r m
anuf
actu
rers
and
the
Arm
y; th
ere
-su
lts a
re u
nifo
rmly
rea
ssur
ing.
CO
MFO
RT
UN
DE
R P
RE
SSU
RE
Peop
le a
sk: W
hat i
s it
like
to b
e in
side
thes
e th
ings
?D
o yo
u fe
el th
e pr
essu
re?
The
ans
wer
to th
e fi
rst
ques
-tio
n is
: Lik
e be
ing
in a
ny b
uild
ing.
To
the
seco
nd: N
o.Pu
tting
it te
chni
cally
, air
-sup
port
ed b
uild
ings
nee
don
ly I
inch
of
wat
er s
tatic
pre
ssur
e to
hol
d th
em u
peq
ual t
o .0
36 p
ound
s pe
r sq
uare
inch
. In
laym
an's
lan-
guag
e, if
you
clo
se y
our
mou
th a
nd p
uff
out y
our
chee
ksw
ith a
ir, y
ou a
re c
reat
ing
abou
t 30
inch
es o
f w
ater
sta
ticpr
essu
re in
side
you
r m
outh
. An
auto
mob
ile ti
re c
arri
esab
out 6
00 in
ches
of
wat
er s
tatic
pre
ssur
e.T
he o
nly
time
a pe
rson
ent
erin
g a
bubb
le k
now
s th
atai
r pr
essu
re is
invo
lved
is w
hen
open
ing
the
door
. Bub
-bl
e N
o. l'
s si
ngle
doo
r (s
win
ging
out
war
d fo
r sa
fety
rea
-so
ns)
open
ed e
asily
; clo
sing
it r
equi
red
a st
out p
ull.
Ifa
revo
lvin
g do
or is
use
d, a
slig
ht r
ush
of a
ir m
ay b
e fe
ltfo
r a
seco
nd. W
ith d
oubl
e do
ors,
whi
ch a
re m
uch
less
cost
ly th
an r
evol
ving
doo
rs, t
here
is a
lmos
t no
air
rush
.T
he o
uter
of
the
two
door
s is
at t
he e
nd o
fa
shor
t,ab
ove-
grou
nd tu
nnel
con
nect
ed to
the
bubb
le. T
his
door
is c
lose
d by
the
pers
on e
nter
ing.
The
inne
r do
or,
A .? 4
4: (
t
z.
1
1
,
4 14 7.'+''.441111
N, 0;,*
4
I
-AL
A
!I
"f.
,,
,*
Tw
elve
-inc
h sq
uare
s of
art
ific
ial t
urf
prov
ide
an id
eal p
layi
ng s
urfa
ce f
or te
nnis
,ba
dmin
ton,
and
oth
er s
port
s. P
erm
anen
t str
ips
of w
hite
"gr
ass"
del
inea
te te
nnis
cou
rt
fixe
d to
the
bubb
le's
ski
n, is
ope
ned
only
aft
er th
e se
c-on
d do
or h
as b
een
clos
ed. B
ecau
se th
ey f
orm
an
air
lock
,do
uble
doo
rs m
inim
ize
leak
age
and
the
slig
ht p
sych
o-lo
gica
l adj
ustm
ent n
eede
d at
the
mom
ent o
f en
teri
nga
pres
suri
zed
build
ing.
The
obv
ious
cho
ice
for
Form
an's
swim
min
g po
ol b
ubbl
e, w
hich
adj
oins
a b
uild
ing,
dou
-bl
e do
ors
are
also
use
d fo
r th
e ne
w te
nnis
cou
rt b
ubbl
ew
here
the
air
lock
had
to b
e bu
ilt o
n.
TO
WA
RD
BE
TT
ER
BU
BB
LE
S
Low
cos
t, m
inim
um u
pkee
p, f
ast p
itchi
ng a
nd s
trik
-in
g, c
omfo
rt, a
nd s
afet
y. T
he a
dvan
tage
s of
wel
l-de
sign
ed a
ir-s
uppo
rted
str
uctu
res
can
be f
ully
rea
lized
in F
orm
an's
new
er b
ubbl
es la
rgel
y be
caus
e th
e sc
hool
'sve
ntur
e w
ith B
ubbl
e N
o. I
exp
osed
pot
entia
l tro
uble
spot
s an
d pr
ovid
ed a
labo
rato
ry f
or te
stin
g w
ays
ofav
oidi
ng th
em. E
xcep
t for
its
loca
tion
and
its a
rtif
icia
llytu
rfed
flo
or, t
he n
ew te
nnis
cou
rt b
ubbl
e di
ffer
sve
ry li
t-tle
fro
m it
s no
w-r
etir
ed p
rede
cess
or a
s it
fina
lly e
volv
edaf
ter
two
win
ters
of
stud
y an
d ex
peri
men
t. A
nd th
ebu
bble
-cov
ered
sw
imm
ing
pool
, whi
ch F
orm
an b
egan
build
ing
in th
e m
idst
of
its e
arly
str
uggl
es w
ith B
ubbl
eN
o. I
, sho
ws
clea
rly
how
the
less
ons
lear
ned
from
that
tria
l bal
loon
con
trib
uted
to th
e su
cces
s of
its
succ
esso
rs.
The
fir
st le
sson
was
the
impo
rtan
ce o
f a
suita
ble
site
.B
ubbl
e N
o. I
was
pla
gued
by
thaw
wat
er f
rom
the
froz
en te
nnis
cou
rts
abov
e it.
The
new
er b
ubbl
es c
lus-
tere
d ar
ound
the
com
mon
s bu
ildin
g ha
ve n
o th
awin
g
tenn
is c
ourt
s ab
ove
them
, and
the
site
's n
atur
al d
rain
-ag
e ca
n co
pe w
ith a
ny n
orm
al f
low
of
wat
er.
The
com
mon
s bu
ildin
g bo
unds
the
adja
cent
out
door
swim
min
g po
ol o
n on
e si
de. T
he p
ool e
nclo
sure
isco
m-
plet
ed b
y a
41/2
foo
t hig
h le
dge
circ
ling
the
deck
. Whe
nth
e po
ol is
bro
ught
indo
ors
for
the
win
ter,
the
big
bub-
ble
skin
is b
olte
d al
l aro
und
to th
is c
emen
t dik
e. O
n th
ebu
ildin
g si
de, a
con
cret
e ca
nopy
8 f
eet h
igh
and
66 f
eet
long
, par
alle
ling
thc
pool
, jut
s in
to th
e bu
bble
. With
-ou
t a b
reak
, the
ledg
e to
whi
ch th
e bu
bble
is f
aste
ned
runs
ato
p th
e ca
nopy
and
dow
n its
end
wal
ls to
poo
lsid
ele
vel s
o th
at th
e ca
nopy
link
s bu
ildin
g an
d bu
bble
.U
nder
it a
re th
e do
uble
-doo
r ai
r lo
cks,
one
for
swim
-m
ers
and
one
for
spec
tato
rs, t
hat p
rovi
de a
cces
s to
the
pool
. Whe
n th
e bu
ildin
g is
com
plet
ed, s
wim
mer
s w
illbe
abl
e to
pas
s di
rect
ly f
rom
dre
ssin
g ro
oms
to th
ebu
bble
-cov
ered
poo
l with
out g
oing
out
side
.T
he b
ubbl
e its
elf
is 1
08 f
eet l
ong,
alm
ost 6
8 fe
et w
ide,
and
abou
t 31
feet
hig
h fr
om p
ool d
eck
leve
l. A
sa
per-
fect
hal
f-cy
linde
r, it
wou
ld h
ave
been
alm
ost 7
fee
thi
gher
at i
ts p
eak.
But
The
Arc
hite
cts
Col
labo
rativ
esh
aved
the
bubb
le to
a s
hallo
wer
dom
e fo
r so
und
rea-
sons
soun
d in
the
liter
al s
ense
. The
ech
oes
prod
uccd
by s
ound
wav
es b
ounc
ing
off
the
top
ofa
half
-cyl
inde
rbu
bble
mig
ht m
ake
inst
ruct
ions
dif
ficu
lt to
hea
r. W
itha
slig
htly
fla
tter
dom
e, th
e fo
cal p
oint
of
soun
d is
push
ed to
bel
ow th
e w
ater
leve
l of
the
pool
and
bur
ied,
but t
he a
cous
tics
still
leav
e a
good
dea
l to
be d
esir
ed.
15
:
1
f I
16
LIG
HT
ING
TH
E B
UB
BL
ES
One
of
Form
an's
wor
st p
robl
ems
with
Bub
ble
No.
Iw
as li
ghtin
g. O
n su
nny
days
, lig
ht s
trea
med
thro
ugh
the
bubb
le's
whi
te, v
inyl
-coa
ted
nylo
n sk
ingl
aref
ree,
unif
orm
ly d
iffu
sed,
and
bri
ght e
noug
h to
pla
y an
y ga
me
by. D
urin
g th
e w
inte
r m
onth
s, th
ough
, whe
n th
e su
n se
tea
rly,
this
idea
l nat
ural
ligh
t beg
an to
fai
l by
3:30
in th
eaf
tern
oon
even
on
clea
r da
ys. A
t nig
ht, o
n cl
oudy
or
stor
my
days
, on
dark
win
ter
afte
rnoo
nsth
e ve
rytim
es a
n in
door
pla
y sp
ace
was
mos
t nee
ded
artif
icia
llig
htin
g w
as a
mus
t.M
r. M
ears
had
bee
n le
d to
bel
ieve
that
the
bubb
leco
uld
be a
dequ
atel
y lig
hted
for
tenn
is a
nd o
ther
spo
rts
by p
laci
ng f
loor
-mou
nted
fix
ture
s so
that
thei
r lig
htw
ould
be
refl
ecte
d of
f th
e si
de w
alls
. He
trie
d it,
usi
ngfo
ur 5
00-w
att q
uart
z la
mps
. Thi
s 2,
000-
wat
t tri
al s
yste
m,
whi
ch r
elie
d w
holly
on
indi
rect
ligh
t, gr
eatly
und
eres
ti-m
ated
the
pow
er r
equi
red
to li
ght a
win
dow
less
bub
ble
for
nigh
t or
dark
day
tenn
is.
A tr
emen
dous
am
ount
of
light
is n
eede
d to
pla
y te
n-ni
s in
a b
ubbl
em
uch
mor
e th
an f
or b
aske
tbal
l or
swim
min
g. T
his
is d
ue m
ore
to th
e na
ture
of
the
gam
e,ho
wev
er, t
han
to th
e na
ture
of
the
bubb
le. T
he tr
ansl
u-ce
nt s
kin
that
lets
out
side
ligh
t str
eam
into
the
bubb
leon
a s
unny
day
als
o le
ts s
ome
insi
de li
ght s
eep
out o
f it.
Will
iam
C. L
am o
f C
ambr
idge
, Mas
sach
uset
ts, l
ight
ing
cons
ulta
nt f
or th
e Fo
rman
bub
ble
proj
ects
, est
imat
esth
at th
e lig
ht lo
ss th
roug
h th
e sk
in is
bet
wee
n 5
and
10
per
cent
. Ano
ther
20
to 2
5 pe
r ce
nt o
f th
e lig
ht s
trik
ing
the
skin
is a
bsor
bed
and
conv
erte
d to
hea
t. B
ut th
e re
stof
the
light
som
e 70
per
cen
tbo
unce
s of
f th
e sk
into
ligh
t oth
er s
urfa
ces
and
obje
cts.
The
bub
ble
skin
's 7
0pe
r ce
nt r
efle
ctiv
ity is
hig
h co
mpa
red
to m
ost m
ater
ials
,an
d its
5 to
10
per
cent
ligh
t los
s is
not
a c
ritic
al le
ak if
ther
e is
eno
ugh
insi
de li
ght t
o be
gin
with
.T
he r
eal p
robl
em is
that
tenn
is is
pla
yed
with
asm
all,
fast
-mov
ing
whi
te b
all w
hich
is h
ard
to s
eeag
ains
t the
bac
kgro
und
of a
whi
te b
ubbl
e. I
n B
ubbl
eN
o. 1
, the
re w
asn'
t eno
ugh
cont
rast
for
the
play
ers
even
afte
r th
e in
tens
ity o
f th
e lig
htin
g ha
d be
en s
tepp
ed u
pto
an
acce
ptab
le le
vel.
Mr.
Lam
sol
ved
the
cont
rast
pro
blem
in th
is c
ase
byte
lling
Mr.
Mea
rs to
dye
his
tenn
is b
alls
red
a so
lu-
tion
scor
ned
at f
irst
by
tenn
is b
uffs
, inc
ludi
ng M
r.M
ears
. It w
orke
d ou
t spl
endi
dly.
So
did
Mr.
Lam
's s
ug-
gest
ion
for
mai
ntai
ning
the
cont
rast
of
dark
bal
lag
ains
t lig
ht b
ackg
roun
d by
pai
ntin
g B
ubbl
e N
o. l'
sbl
ack
asph
alt c
ourt
pal
e bl
ue.
In th
e ne
w te
nnis
cou
rt b
ubbl
e, th
e sa
me
prob
lem
has
been
sol
ved
with
out a
band
onin
g th
e tr
aditi
onal
whi
teba
llor
the
trad
ition
al g
reen
of
the
"gra
ss"
cour
tby
lini
ng th
e bu
bble
's e
nd w
alls
with
dar
k-gr
een
plas
ticup
to a
hei
ght o
f 12
fee
t. T
his
prov
ides
a d
ark
back
-gr
ound
for
the
ball.
It a
lso
cuts
dow
n th
e na
tura
l lig
htin
take
thro
ugh
the
ends
of
the
bubb
le. O
n cl
ear
days
,th
ough
, the
slig
ht li
ght l
oss
is in
sign
ific
ant;
on c
loae
y
...Su
nlig
ht d
iffu
sed
thro
ugh
tran
sluc
ent b
ubbl
esk
in li
ghts
poo
l ade
quat
ely
exce
pton
dar
k w
inte
r da
ys. A
rche
s tr
aced
by
bubb
le's
sea
ms
give
Got
hic
flav
or to
inte
rior
spa
ce
days
, art
ific
ial l
ight
ing
is n
eede
d in
the
bubb
lean
yway
.A
thir
d so
lutio
n, s
ugge
sted
by
The
Arc
hite
cts
Col
lab-
orat
ive,
mig
ht b
e a
wid
e, g
reen
gauz
e ne
tting
hun
g at
eith
er e
nd o
f th
e bu
bble
. The
net
ting
wou
ld p
rovi
dea
dark
bac
kgro
und
for
the
ball
and
adm
it lig
htat
the
sam
e tim
e.E
xcep
t at n
ight
, the
less
str
inge
nt li
ghtin
g re
quir
e-m
ents
for
the
swim
min
g po
ol b
ubbl
e co
uld
have
bee
nm
et b
y us
ing
wha
t Bir
dair
cal
ls "
cath
edra
l win
dow
s" in
the
bubb
le's
sid
e. T
all,
slen
der,
and
set
clo
se to
geth
er,
thes
e w
indo
ws
can
be s
een
in th
e bu
bble
-cov
ered
sw
im-
min
g po
ols
at A
tlant
ic C
ity. U
ntil
rece
ntly
, the
yw
ere
mad
e of
tran
spar
ent M
ylar
5/1
000
ofan
inch
thic
k.M
ylar
, how
ever
, has
poo
r te
ar r
esis
tanc
e. W
hen
punc
-tu
red,
it w
ill r
ip li
ke c
ello
phan
e. F
or th
isre
ason
, if
cath
edra
l win
dow
s ar
e us
ed, t
hey
are
now
mad
e of
tran
s-pa
rent
vin
yl f
ilm, w
hich
is 2
0/10
00 o
f an
inch
thic
k.E
sthe
tical
ly, t
he w
indo
ws
are
hand
som
e, a
ndce
r-ta
inly
they
are
stu
rdie
r th
an b
efor
e. B
ut p
ract
ical
ly,
they
wea
ken
the
bubb
le, a
nd c
ould
be
vict
ims
ofva
n-da
ls o
r hi
gh w
inds
. Mr.
Mea
rs d
ecid
ed a
gain
st th
em,
even
thou
gh th
ey m
ight
hav
e m
ade
natu
ral l
ight
suf
fi-
cien
t unt
il du
sk o
n al
l but
the
dark
est d
ays.
Prov
idin
g en
ough
ligh
t to
play
gam
es o
r sw
im b
y is
not t
he o
nly
prob
lem
enc
ount
ered
in li
ghtin
g bu
bble
s,or
eve
n th
e m
ost s
erio
us. Y
et a
noth
er p
robl
em c
an s
tem
from
the
desi
gn o
f th
e lig
htin
g fi
xtur
es th
emse
lves
.Sh
arp-
edge
d fi
xtur
es s
et o
n hi
gh p
oles
, for
exa
mpl
e, w
ill
I\ \
N
18
tear
the
fabr
ic if
a h
eavy
win
dsto
rm c
omes
alo
ng a
ndth
e bu
bble
sag
s ag
ains
t the
ligh
ts.
In A
tlant
ic C
ity, b
ubbl
e ow
ners
sol
ve th
is p
robl
emw
ith 1
5-fo
ot-h
igh
pole
s be
nt in
a s
wee
ping
inw
ard
curv
e, f
ollo
win
g th
e cu
rve
of th
e bu
bble
wal
ls. A
t the
end
of th
ese
pole
s ar
e ro
unde
d lig
hts
shin
ing
dow
n on
the
swim
min
g po
ols.
The
theo
ry is
that
if th
e bu
bble
wer
e pa
rtly
def
late
d, th
e sk
in w
ould
sim
ply
rest
on
thes
ecu
rved
sup
port
s. M
r. M
ears
, how
ever
, fee
ls th
at e
ven
curv
ed s
uppo
rts
wou
ld b
e ri
sky
if a
par
tly d
efla
ted
bubb
le w
ere
caug
ht in
a h
igh
win
d. H
e pr
efer
s su
ch a
l-te
rnat
e so
lutio
ns a
s de
mou
ntab
le p
oles
, pol
es th
at te
le-
scop
e in
to th
e gr
ound
, and
ligh
ts s
et in
the
grou
nd.
Lig
hts
or o
ther
hea
vy o
bjec
tssh
ould
nev
er b
ese
wn
to th
e bu
bble
's f
abri
c. O
n th
e ad
vice
of
a B
irda
irin
stal
ler
who
had
bee
n in
suff
icie
ntly
indo
ctri
nate
d,Fo
rman
did
just
that
in th
e w
inte
r of
196
2. T
hen
a te
r-ri
fic
snow
stor
m p
artly
def
late
d an
d w
hipp
ed B
ubbl
eN
o. 1
. With
in m
omen
ts, t
he li
ghts
wer
e ha
ngin
g by
afe
w th
read
s, a
nd w
ould
hav
e be
en f
lung
to th
e fl
oor
had
not r
escu
ers
arri
ved.
For
both
For
man
Sch
ool b
ubbl
es, W
illia
m L
am f
i-na
lly p
lann
ed f
luor
esce
nt li
ghtin
g of
gre
at in
tens
ity, t
heki
nd n
orm
ally
use
d as
ligh
ting
for
billb
oard
s.In
the
swim
min
g po
ol b
ubbl
e, a
flu
ores
cent
tube
, 64
feet
long
in 8
-foo
t sec
tions
, lie
s in
side
an
alum
inum
trou
gh th
at r
efle
cts
the
light
. The
trou
gh, w
hich
can
be
cant
ed to
thro
w th
e lig
ht in
dif
fere
nt d
irec
tions
, is
set
Led
ge a
ttach
men
t for
sw
imm
ing
pool
bub
ble
exte
nds
acro
ss c
anop
y lin
king
poo
lw
ith c
omm
ons
build
ing.
Dou
ble
door
s at
eith
er e
ndof
can
opy
prov
ide
acce
ss f
orsw
imm
ers
and
spec
tato
rs
atop
the
wid
e co
ncre
te c
anop
y th
at p
roje
cts
from
the
Com
mon
s B
uild
ing
into
the
pool
enc
losu
re. I
n w
inte
r,th
e tr
ough
is ti
lted
upw
ard
to b
ounc
e lig
ht o
ff th
e bu
b-bl
e's
ceili
ng. I
n th
e su
mm
er, w
hen
the
bubb
le is
re-
mov
ed, i
t is
cant
ed d
ownw
ard
to s
hine
ligh
t dir
ectly
into
the
pool
. The
wat
tage
fro
m th
is li
ght s
ourc
e is
abou
t 2,0
00, b
ut it
see
ms
muc
h br
ight
er b
ecau
se th
elig
ht is
a c
ontin
uous
bar
rat
her
than
spo
ts o
f br
ight
ness
from
man
y fi
xtur
es. A
lso,
it is
sup
plem
ente
d by
und
er-
wat
er f
ixtu
res
that
add
to th
e va
riet
y of
ligh
ting
poss
i-bl
e w
ith th
e tu
be a
nd tr
ough
sys
tem
, and
pro
vide
an
alte
rnat
e sy
stem
for
nig
httim
e sw
imm
ing
part
ies.
The
sam
e ki
nd o
f tu
be a
nd tr
ough
, set
on
dem
ount
-ab
le o
r te
lesc
opin
g po
les,
was
pla
nned
for
the
tenn
isbu
bble
. Will
iam
Lam
's r
ecom
men
datio
ns c
alle
d fo
rtw
o 10
0-fo
ot s
trip
s on
eith
er s
ide
of th
e co
urt,
prov
idin
g6,
000
wat
ts f
luor
esce
nt,w
ith th
e al
umin
um tr
ough
per
-fo
rate
d on
one
sid
e so
that
ligh
t cou
ld s
hine
thro
ugh
toill
umin
ate
the
low
er p
art o
f th
e w
all.
Whe
n th
e ne
w te
nnis
bub
ble
was
put
up,
how
ever
,M
r. M
ears
sim
ply
mov
ed in
the
fixt
ures
a si
zabl
e in
-ve
stm
ent b
y th
enth
at f
inal
ly s
olve
d th
e pr
oble
m o
flig
htin
g B
ubbl
e N
o. 1
. Alo
ng th
e si
des
of th
e bu
bble
,cu
rved
col
laps
ible
pol
es, t
hree
to a
sid
e, a
re s
et in
hol
esin
the
cour
t. T
he p
oles
are
sw
ivel
ed a
t the
ir b
ase
so th
atth
e lig
hts
can
be lo
wer
ed to
the
floo
r qu
ickl
y an
d ea
sily
whe
n ba
d w
eath
er th
reat
ens,
leav
ing
noth
ing
"stic
king
up"
in th
e bu
bble
.
-
20
,
\
Qua
rtz
lam
ps a
top
curv
ed c
olla
psib
le p
oles
ligh
tco
urt f
or n
ight
and
dar
k-da
y te
nnis
.Fl
oor-
mou
nted
lam
ps li
ght e
nd w
alls
,w
hich
are
line
d w
ith g
reen
pla
stic
to c
ontr
ast w
ith w
hite
bal
l
Six
1,50
0-w
att q
uart
z la
mps
atta
ched
to th
ese
20-f
oot
pole
c th
row
dir
ect l
ight
I H
I th
e co
urt.
In a
dditi
on, f
our
sim
ilar
500-
wat
t lam
ps a
rc m
ount
ed o
n th
e fl
oor,
two
atea
ch e
nd o
f th
e bu
bble
. One
lam
p in
eac
h pa
ir is
aim
edat
the
gree
n pl
astic
lini
ng o
n th
e bu
bble
's e
nd w
all.
Tlw
seco
nd la
mp
beam
s lig
ht a
t the
cei
ling
so th
at p
laN
ers
can
see
lobs
mor
e ea
sily
.
TH
E B
UB
BL
E V
ER
SUS
TH
E E
LE
ME
NT
SL
ike
badl
y de
sign
ed li
ghtin
g. s
now
can
pos
e pr
oble
ms
for
air-
supp
orte
d st
ruct
ures
. One
nig
ht in
196
2, a
wet
.he
aNy
snow
fel
l on
Form
an B
ubbl
e N
o. 1
, clu
ng to
the
roof
, and
pile
d hi
gh. T
hen,
in a
sud
den
a% a
lanc
he, i
tsl
id o
ff th
e ro
of. b
uryi
ng a
nd s
uffo
catin
g th
e tw
o bl
ower
fans
out
side
the
bubb
le. B
y da
wn,
the
bubb
le h
adsa
gged
hal
fway
to e
arth
.T
he p
robl
em w
as c
ause
d by
pla
cing
the
unpr
otec
ted
blow
ers
with
thei
r in
take
s lo
w to
the
grou
nd. I
tw
as c
or-
rect
ed b
y bu
ildin
g a
hous
ing
over
eac
h fa
n w
ith a
ir in
-le
ts p
rote
cted
and
set
six
fee
t abo
Ne
grou
nd.
In B
ubbl
e N
o. 2
. the
re is
no
such
pro
blem
. Hea
ting
and
air
pres
suri
zatio
n eq
uipm
ent i
s sh
elte
red
in th
eba
sem
ent o
f th
e co
mm
ons
build
ing
alon
gsid
e th
e bu
b-bl
e. F
resh
air
is s
wep
t in
by f
ans
and
heat
ed b
y a
boile
r;ot
her
fans
blo
w th
e ai
r up
into
the
bubb
le th
ro,ig
h ho
tai
r re
gist
ers
and
a tr
ench
aro
und
the
pool
. The
use
d ai
ris
dra
wn
back
dow
n in
to th
e ba
sem
ent,
mix
ed w
ithhe
ated
frc
sh a
ir, a
nd th
e cy
cle
begi
ns a
gain
.
In p
arts
of
the
coun
tr)
with
hea
% y
sno
wfa
lls, s
now
load
s on
the
bubb
le n
eed
not b
e a
wor
ry p
rovi
ded
the
snow
is h
ot a
llow
ed to
pile
too
high
. Sno
w c
an b
e re
-m
o% e
(1 e
asily
in s
e% e
ral w
ays:
Bv
beat
ing
the
side
of
the
stru
ctur
e, w
hich
cau
ses
snow
to s
lip d
own
fron
t the
dom
e.B
) de
flat
ing
the
bubb
le 5
to 1
0 pe
r ce
nt, a
s th
e A
rmy
does
. Ice
and
fro
zen
snow
cra
ck a
s th
e ta
ut s
truc
ture
goes
lim
p. A
rmy
engi
neer
s th
en b
low
the
bubb
leba
ck u
p; th
e ex
pand
ing
mov
emen
t thr
usts
the
load
off
the
stru
ctur
e.O
r a
man
can
sta
nd o
n on
e si
de o
f th
e bu
bble
and
toss
a ro
pe to
a m
an o
n th
e ot
her
side
. As
they
run
the
rope
alo
ng th
e to
p, it
bre
aks
up s
now
and
ice.
Ext
rem
e co
ld d
oes
not a
ffec
t the
bub
ble
skin
to a
nyim
port
ant d
egre
e. T
he th
in v
inyl
coa
ting
on th
e ny
lon
may
bec
ome
som
ewha
t bri
ttle
duri
ng z
ero
wea
ther
and
belo
w. B
ut n
eith
er th
e A
rmy,
whi
ch h
as s
een
the
bub-
bles
per
form
wel
l in
the
Arc
tic, n
or F
orm
an, w
here
zer
ote
mpe
ratu
res
are
com
mon
, ant
icip
ate
any
trou
ble.
DO
'S A
ND
DO
N'T
S O
F A
IR S
TR
UC
TU
RE
ST
o re
capi
tula
te. t
he e
xper
ienc
e w
ith B
ubbl
e N
o. I
was
a le
sson
for
eve
ryon
e co
nnec
ted
with
Bub
bles
No.
2an
d 3.
Bas
ed o
n th
is e
xper
ienc
e, T
he A
rchi
tect
s C
olla
b-or
ativ
e dr
ew u
p a
10-p
oint
, qui
ck c
heck
-lis
t of
thin
gs to
wat
ch o
ut f
or in
air
-sup
port
ed s
truc
ture
s. T
he li
stfo
llow
s.
-
"P"
')te,
..:r.
k.
Pp)(
e.-
s;:
22
1. P
rovi
de p
ositi
ve a
ncho
rage
.9.
Pro
vide
pos
itive
dra
inag
e.3.
Pro
tect
the
enve
lope
fro
m s
harp
obj
ects
dur
ing
erec
tion.
4. P
rovi
de p
rote
ctio
n ag
ains
t sha
rp p
rotr
usio
ns in
-si
de th
e bu
bble
.5.
Con
trol
air
leak
age
from
env
elop
e. (
A ta
ut s
kin
is r
equi
red
to w
ithst
and
high
win
ds, s
torm
s.)
6. R
emov
e sn
ow u
nles
s in
tern
al p
ress
ure
is s
uffi
-ci
ent t
o co
mpe
nsat
e fo
r m
axim
um s
now
load
.7.
Pro
tect
fan
inle
ts f
rom
sno
w o
r ot
her
obst
ruct
ion.
8. P
erio
dica
lly c
heck
infl
atio
n eq
uipm
ent.
(Wor
nor
loos
e fa
n be
lts c
an c
ause
a lo
ss o
f ai
r pr
essu
re.)
9. P
rovi
de a
uxili
ary
gene
rato
rs to
mai
ntai
n bl
ower
oper
atio
n in
cas
e of
pow
er f
ailu
re.
10. D
on't
atta
ch li
ghts
to b
ubbl
e-sk
in.
The
se a
re th
e lim
itatio
ns a
nd p
oten
tial s
ourc
es o
ftr
oubl
e in
air
-sup
port
ed s
truc
ture
s. B
ut th
e pr
esen
t ad-
vant
ages
and
fut
ure
poss
ibili
ties
they
off
er c
anno
t be
deni
ed. A
ccor
ding
to A
rchi
tect
ural
For
um:
"It m
ight
be
said
that
the
air
build
ing
is th
e gr
eate
stin
vent
ion
sinc
e th
e te
nt, e
xcep
t tha
t the
tent
, by
com
-pa
riso
n, d
oes
not s
eem
to h
ave
been
suc
h a
grea
t ide
aaf
ter
all.
No
nom
adic
vis
iona
ry c
ould
imag
ine
tent
ing
an e
ntir
e ci
ty w
ith a
sin
gle
fabr
ic, y
et th
is is
a p
ossi
bil-
ity, a
lbei
t stil
l a r
emot
e on
e, w
ith th
e ai
r st
ruct
ure.
Mor
eove
r, w
ith a
n ai
r bu
ildin
g (b
ut n
ot w
ith a
tent
)cl
ear
span
s of
300
or
400
feet
are
eas
ily p
ossi
ble.
"
For
now
, for
sch
ool s
port
s, T
he F
orm
an S
choo
l fee
lsth
at th
c ai
r st
ruct
ure
offe
rs p
ositi
ve a
d% a
ntag
es. S
tow
ell
Mea
rs li
sts
thes
e po
ints
in it
s fa
x or
:1.
It c
osts
but
a f
ract
ion
of th
e pr
ice
of a
con
ven-
tiona
l bui
ldin
g.9.
It i
s in
expe
nsiv
e to
hea
t bec
ause
it is
hea
ted
onl
whe
n it
is b
eing
use
d. T
here
is n
o m
ass
(wal
ls,
floo
rs, a
nd s
uch)
to h
eat
only
air
.3.
It i
s in
cxpe
nsix
e to
ligh
t bec
ause
of
the
skin
's r
e-fl
ectiv
e qu
aliti
es, a
nd b
ecau
se s
unlig
ht is
uni
-fo
rmly
dif
fuse
d w
ithou
t gla
re.
4. I
t pro
vide
s an
uno
bstr
ucte
d cl
ear
span
.5.
It i
s de
mou
ntab
le a
nd p
oi ta
ble
so th
at o
utdo
or f
a-ci
litie
s be
com
e ea
sily
ava
ilabl
e in
the
sum
mer
.6.
The
air
str
uctu
re is
eas
ily c
lean
ed a
nd r
equi
res
lit-
tle m
aint
enan
ce.
7. P
rope
rly
engi
neer
ed w
ith r
espe
ct to
air
pre
ssur
e,fa
n lo
catio
n, e
ntra
nce
air
lock
s, a
ncho
rage
, dra
in-
age,
dem
ount
able
ligh
ts a
nd o
ther
inte
rior
ob-
stru
ctio
ns, a
nd s
tren
gth
and
dura
bilit
y of
fab
ric,
air
stru
ctur
es a
re c
ompl
etel
y de
pend
able
.T
he p
rinc
ipal
dis
adva
ntag
e m
ight
be
the
bubb
le's
limite
d lif
e ex
pect
ancy
. How
ever
, new
mat
eria
ls a
reno
w b
eing
pro
mis
ed w
hich
will
res
ist t
he u
ltrav
iole
tra
ys o
f th
e su
nth
e m
ain
caus
e of
det
erio
ratio
n an
dag
ing.
"If
thes
e m
ater
ials
lise
up
to th
eir
atha
nce
bill-
ing,
" M
r. 'M
ears
pre
dict
s, "
the
air
stru
ctur
e w
ill p
rose
to b
e a
maj
or a
than
ce in
the
fiel
d of
larg
e bu
ildin
gs.'"
24
[
t N
r
Phot
ogra
phy:
Pag
e 11
(to
p) E
DW
AR
D H
AZ
EN
RE
ED
; Pag
e 11
(bo
ttom
), P
age
19, B
UD
NE
Y, c
ourt
esy
TH
E F
OR
MA
N S
CH
OO
L;
all o
ther
s by
GE
OR
GE
ZIM
BE
LD
esig
n: M
CA
RT
HU
R M
CL
AIN
Prin
ting:
GE
OR
GIA
N L
ITH
OG
RA
PHE
RS,
IN
C.
Lib
rary
of
Con
gres
s C
atal
og C
ard
#64-
2121
1Fi
rst P
rint
ing,
May
196
4Se
cond
Pri
ntin
g, D
ecem
ber
1964
Add
ition
al c
opie
s ar
e av
aila
ble
from
Edu
catio
nal F
acili
ties
Lab
orat
orie
s47
7 M
adis
on A
venu
eN
ew Y
ork,
N. Y
. 100
22
4
EFL
Pub
licat
ions
Ava
ilabl
e fr
om E
duca
tiona
l Fac
ilitie
s L
abor
ator
ies,
Inc
.,477
Mad
ison
Ave
nue,
New
Yor
k22
, New
Yor
k
TH
E C
OST
OF
A S
CH
OO
LH
OU
SE
A r
evie
w o
f th
e fa
ctor
s co
ntri
butin
g to
the
cost
and
ef-
fect
iven
ess
of s
choo
lhou
sing
, inc
ludi
ng p
lann
ing,
bui
ld-
ing,
and
fin
anci
ng.
DE
SIG
N F
OR
ET
V -
PL
AN
NIN
G F
OR
SC
HO
OL
S W
ITH
TE
LE
VIS
ION
A r
epor
t on
faci
litie
s, p
rese
nt a
nd f
utur
e, n
eede
d to
acco
mm
odat
e in
stru
ctio
nal t
elev
isio
n an
d ot
her
new
educ
atio
nal p
rogr
ams.
Pre
pare
d fo
r E
FL b
y D
ave
Cha
p-m
an, I
nc.,
Indu
stri
al D
esig
n.
CO
LL
EG
E S
TU
DE
NT
S L
IVE
HE
RE
A r
epor
t on
the
wha
t, w
hy, a
nd h
ow o
f co
llege
hou
sing
;re
view
s th
e fa
ctor
s in
volv
ed in
pla
nnin
g, b
uild
ing,
and
fina
ncin
g st
uden
t res
iden
ces.
TO
BU
ILD
OR
NO
T T
O B
UIL
DA
stu
dy o
f th
e ut
iliza
tion
of in
stru
ctio
nal s
pace
in s
mal
llib
eral
art
s co
llege
s, w
ith a
do-
it-yo
urse
lf w
orkb
ook
for
the
indi
vidu
al u
se o
f th
e in
stitu
tions
that
wis
h to
sur
-ve
y th
eir
own
utili
zatio
n le
vels
.
TH
E S
CH
OO
L L
IBR
AR
Y
A r
epor
t on
faci
litie
s fo
r in
depe
nden
t stu
dy, w
ithst
anda
rds
for
the
size
of
colle
ctio
ns, s
eatin
g ca
paci
ty,
and
the
natu
re o
f m
ater
ials
to b
e in
corp
orat
ed.
BR
ICK
S A
ND
MO
RT
AR
BO
AR
DS
A r
epor
t on
colle
ge p
lann
ing
anci
build
ing;
how
col
lege
sca
n pr
ovid
e en
ough
spa
ce f
or th
e bu
rgeo
ning
enr
oll-
men
ts o
f th
is d
ecad
e.
PRO
FIL
ES
OF
SIG
NIF
ICA
NT
SC
HO
OL
S A
ser
ies
ofre
port
s w
hich
pro
vide
info
rmat
ion
on s
ome
of th
e la
test
deve
lopm
ents
in s
choo
l pla
nnin
g an
d de
sign
.
Bel
aire
Ele
men
tary
Sch
ool,
San
Ang
elo,
Tex
asH
eat h
cote
Ele
men
tary
Sch
ool,
Scar
sdal
e, N
ew Y
ork
Mon
tros
e E
lem
enta
ry S
choo
l, L
ared
o, T
exas
Tw
o M
iddl
e Sc
hool
s, S
agin
aw T
owns
hip,
Mic
higa
nN
ewto
n So
uth
Hig
h Sc
hool
, New
ton,
Mas
sach
uset
tsH
olla
nd H
igh
Scho
ol, H
olla
nd, M
ichi
gan
Scho
ols
for
Tea
m T
each
ing
ten
repr
esen
tativ
eex
ampl
esH
igh
Scho
ols
1962
educ
atio
nal c
hang
e an
d ar
chite
c-tu
ral c
onse
quen
ce
CA
SE S
TU
DIE
S O
F E
DU
CA
TIO
NA
L F
AC
ILIT
IES
A s
erie
s of
rep
orts
whi
ch p
rovi
de in
form
atio
n on
spe
ci-
fic
solu
tions
to p
robl
ems
in s
choo
l pla
nnin
g, d
esig
n, a
ndco
nstr
uctio
n.
1. C
ON
VE
NT
ION
AL
GY
MN
ASI
UM
VS.
GE
OD
ESI
C F
IEL
DH
OU
SE A
com
pari
son
of c
ost,
spac
e, a
nd a
dvan
tage
sba
sed
on a
cas
e st
udy
of W
est B
ethe
sda
Hig
hSc
hool
, Mon
tgom
ery
Cou
nty,
Mar
ylan
d.
2. S
PAC
E A
ND
DO
LL
AR
S: A
N U
RB
AN
UN
IVE
RSI
TY
EX
-PA
ND
S A
rep
ort o
n th
e ec
onom
ical
phy
sica
l exp
an-
sion
of
urba
n un
iver
sitie
s ba
sed
on a
cas
e st
udy
ofD
rexe
l Ins
titut
e of
Tec
hnol
ogy.
3. L
AB
OR
AT
OR
IES
AN
D C
LA
SSR
OO
MS
FOR
HIG
H S
CH
OO
LPH
YSI
CS
Cha
pter
rep
rint
ed f
rom
Mod
ern
Phys
ics
Bui
ldin
gs: D
esig
n an
d Fu
nctio
n.
4. A
DIV
ISIB
LE
AU
DIT
OR
IUM
/BO
UL
DE
R C
ITY
, NE
VA
DA
Cas
e st
udy
of a
n au
dito
rium
that
can
be
conv
erte
dto
inst
ruct
iona
l spa
ces
by th
e us
e of
sou
ndpr
oof,
oper
able
wal
ls.
5. N
EW
CA
MPU
SES
FOR
OL
D: A
CA
SE S
TU
DY
OF
FOU
RC
OL
LE
GE
S T
HA
T M
OV
ED
Wlit
the
deci
sion
to m
ove
mea
ns f
rom
an
econ
omic
, aca
dem
ic, s
ocia
l, an
dph
ysic
al p
oint
of
view
.
6. A
CO
LL
EG
E H
EA
LT
H C
EN
TE
R C
ase
stud
y of
a m
odel
cent
er f
or s
mal
l pri
vate
col
lege
s; a
rchi
tect
ural
de-
sign
by
Cau
dill,
Row
lett
& S
cott.
7. N
EW
BU
ILD
ING
S O
N C
AM
PUS:
SIX
DE
SIG
NS
FOR
AC
OL
LE
GE
CO
MM
UN
ICA
TIO
NS
CE
NT
ER
A p
ortf
olio
of
prot
otyp
e sc
hem
es e
nter
ed in
an
arch
itect
ural
com
petit
ion
spon
sore
d by
Ren
ssel
aer
Poly
tech
nic
Inst
itute
.
8. T
HE
SC
HO
OL
S A
ND
UR
BA
N R
EN
EW
AL
: A c
ase
stud
yfr
om N
ew H
aven
.
TE
CH
NIC
AL
RE
POR
TS
1 . A
CO
UST
ICA
L E
NV
IRO
NM
EN
T O
F SC
HO
OL
BU
ILD
ING
S
CO
LL
EG
E N
EW
SLE
TT
ER
A p
erio
dica
l on
desi
gn q
uest
ions
for
col
lege
s an
dun
iver
sitie
s.
:a
CA
SE
ST
UD
IES0
OF
ED
UC
AT
ION
AL
FA
CIL
ITIE
S
"4.
