Largest tensegrity dome

The Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia, USA is the world’s largest dome constructed using the sophisticated tensegrity structural system in which separate components in compression operate inside a net of continuous tension – meaning that no structural member undergoes a bending moment. Finished in 1992 at a cost of US$214 million, the elliptical Georgia Dome reaches 82.5 m with a structure length of 227.3 m and width of 185 m, covering a total floor area of 9,490 square metres – large enough to hold a pair of C-5 military transport planes. The dome’s Teflon-coated fabric roof has 130 panels, an area of 34,800 square metres, and 11.1 miles of supporting cables. A total of 8,300 tons of reinforced steel were also used to construct the Georgia Dome – more than the iron and steel in the Eiffel Tower. The four 1,250-ton air-conditioning units in the dome generate enough power to cool 1,666 homes. It was designed by Heery International, Rosser FABRAP and Thompson, Ventulett, Stainback & Associates.

Commissioned for the 1996 Olympics, after a US$300 million renovation in 2006, it is now used largely for American football, basketball and music concerts, with a maximum recorded attendance of 80,892 for a basketball game in 2008.