Sixth Form Colleges

Colleges tend to use their domes for multipurpose activities ranging from outdoor classrooms and shelters to elegant display and gallery structures.

Solardomes can also be used to create a specialist environment away from the main buildings for science and engineering projects, environmental studies, horticulture and technology.

Solardomes also create a unique setting for special occasions. Why not use it as a stylish reception area for special events, a music centre or as a display area for college artwork?

The Solardome is also the ideal structure for studying the work of American inventor, Richard Buckminster Fuller. He demonstrated that the geodesic dome is the ultimate way of enclosing space and is the strongest structure available.

Bring organic chemistry to life by investigating how the geodesic shape is replicated in nature in the family of carbon molecules called "fullerenes", after the geodesic dome inventor.

Case Study - Revolutionary recycling scheme

Sabhal Mor Ostaig provides a unique learning environment where all higher education provision and the running of the College is conducted in Scottish Gaelic - the only such college in the world.

Sabhal Mor Ostaig is situated in an area of outstanding natural beauty on the Sleat peninsula on the Isle of Skye.

HRH The Prince of Wales gave his Royal seal of approval to the College's revolutionary catering waste recycling and food production project when he toured the three Solardomes that have been constructed there.

The College has since played a pivotal role in the Scottish Executive's target of recycling 25% of the region's 500,000 tons of annual waste, and the aim is to reduce the volume of waste sent to landfill sites by half.

A dedicated recycling room serves as a training centre, disseminating good practice to businesses and other groups in the area. Mr Gilchrist of Tecorr Consultants, who has been involved in designing recycling plants for Banchory and Glasgow, commented, "Once everyone sees how clean and straightforward the process is, units like this will be found throughout the islands and isolated communities across Scotland." The three Solardomes on site provide the last piece of the jig-saw by enabling the College kitchen to prepare meals which are supplemented with organic produce which has been carefully home-grown.

Many Scottish customers have chosen a geodesic dome because of its strength and durability. There are many stories of storms, heavy snowfall and other extreme weather conditions which have left Solardomes untouched.