Bethesda in Montgomery County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

The Class of 1970 Honors Its Distinctive ‘Dome•icile’

An All-Purpose Auditorium Accommodating Athletics, Activities, Assemblies & the Arts

Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), September 30, 2022

1. The Class of 1970 Honors Its Distinctive 'Dome•icile' Marker

Inscription.

The Class of 1970 Honors Its Distinctive ‘Dome.icile’. An All-Purpose Auditorium Accommodating Athletics, Activities, Assemblies and the Arts. , Genesis: In 1960, a tidal wave of Baby Boomers approached high school age, creating a classroom shortage in Bethesda. The western suburbs along River Road needed a high school of their own. With 'design innovation the goal,' the Field House was its focal point. And America's first school Geodesic Dome, Definition: A spherical structure composed of triangular elements, forming a network of circles, or 'geodesics,' making the triangle twice as strong as a rectangle under pressure. The sphere encloses the largest volume of interior space with the least amount of surface area. "Doing more with less," in the words of its inventor, R. Buckminster Fuller, "utilized gravity instead of opposing it." , ,

The architectural profession is keenly aware that just as teaching influences the pupil so does a building influence the teaching." , ~ John McLeod, Partner of Principal Architect Anthony Ferrara, to Congress, August 1965, Time and again, I am asked, 'Who else do you know who thinks the way you do, or does what you do?' I find it very strange to have to answer, 'I don't know anyone else.' , ~ Buckminster Fuller (1895-1983), twice expelled from Harvard, later World President of Mensa and creator of the Geodesic Dome in 1954, The circular field house is a fairly unique structure and has created a great deal of interest. Many visitors from all parts of this country and abroad have inspected it during construction and since its completion. , ~ Dr. Daryl W. Shaw, Welcoming Remarks as WWHS Principal, The first of the geodesic-domed gymnasiums was the field house at Walt Whitman High School, Bethesda, Maryland, built in 1962. The dome offers more usable space, more versatility in accommodating physical education and assembly activities, and exciting architecture. , ~ Journal of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, Vol. 37, June 1966, "Over the next 30 years, the 3,500-seat dome hosted sports events [the basketball Bullets in West Unseld's rookie year], theater productions and concerts featuring chart-topping acts like Wilson Pickett", one of five Rock and Roll Hall of Famers, along with The Hollies, The Four Seasons, James Brown, Martha and the Vendellas, all of whom played the Dome during the Class of the 1970 era. , ~Historian Mark Walston in Bethesda Magazine, February 2020

Size: 35,800 sq. ft. 4,200 more than a Rectangular Gym (RG) , Capacity: 3,536 (Allowing 1,000 more spectators than RG) , Cost: $583,674 ($5.4 million in 2022 dollars) , Cost Savings: $2.37 sq. ft. ($84,876 total vs. RG) , Savings in 2022$: $806,322 (literally by "cutting corners")

, [Captions:]

The dome encompassed the near end zone and track that you are now overlooking (as superimposed above).
Accessed from steps or via a covered walkway.
The structural framing was left exposed on the underside of the roof, thus giving a unique honeycomb effect to the striking dome ceiling.
The circular space configuration provided dual side and rear areas so that multiple group activities could occur simultaneously.
The dome provided a perfect backdrop to where the original football field stood.
Futuristic fisheye view of use as auditorium; dome needed no obscuring interior columns.

Genesis: In 1960, a tidal wave of Baby Boomers approached high school age—creating a classroom shortage in Bethesda. The western suburbs along River Road needed a high school of their own. With 'design innovation the goal,' the Field House was its focal point. And America's first school Geodesic Dome

Definition: A spherical structure composed of triangular elements, forming a network of circles, or 'geodesics,' making the triangle twice as strong as a rectangle under pressure. The sphere encloses the largest volume of interior space with the least amount of surface area. "Doing more with less," in the words of its inventor, R. Buckminster Fuller, "utilized gravity instead of opposing it."

The architectural profession is keenly aware that just as teaching influences the pupil so does a building influence the teaching."
~ John McLeod, Partner of Principal Architect Anthony Ferrara, to Congress, August 1965

Time and again, I am asked, 'Who else do you know who thinks the way you do, or does what you do?' I find it very strange to have to answer, 'I don't know anyone else.'
~ Buckminster Fuller (1895-1983), twice expelled from Harvard, later World President of Mensa and creator
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of the Geodesic Dome in 1954

The circular field house is a fairly unique structure and has created a great deal of interest. Many visitors from all parts of this country and abroad have inspected it during construction and since its completion.
~ Dr. Daryl W. Shaw, Welcoming Remarks as WWHS Principal

The first of the geodesic-domed gymnasiums was the field house at Walt Whitman High School, Bethesda, Maryland, built in 1962. The dome offers more usable space, more versatility in accommodating physical education and assembly activities, and exciting architecture.
~ Journal of Health, Physical Education & Recreation, Vol. 37, June 1966

"Over the next 30 years, the 3,500-seat dome hosted sports events [the basketball Bullets in West Unseld's rookie year], theater productions and concerts featuring chart-topping acts like Wilson Pickett"—one of five Rock & Roll Hall of Famers, along with The Hollies, The Four Seasons, James Brown, Martha and the Vendellas—all of whom played the Dome during the Class of the 1970 era.
~Historian Mark Walston in Bethesda Magazine, February 2020

Size: 35,800 sq. ft. 4,200 more than a Rectangular Gym (RG)
Capacity: 3,536 (Allowing 1,000 more spectators than RG)
Cost:
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), September 30, 2022

2. The Class of 1970 Honors Its Distinctive ‘Dome•icile’ and “Home of the Dome” Markers
“The Dome,” Walt Whitman High School’s geodesic field house, was located just beyond the fence on this end of the present football field.
$583,674 ($5.4 million in 2022 dollars)
Cost Savings: $2.37 sq. ft. ($84,876 total vs. RG)
Savings in 2022$: $806,322 (literally by "cutting corners")

[Captions:]

The dome encompassed the near end zone and track that you are now overlooking (as superimposed above).
Accessed from steps or via a covered walkway.
The structural framing was left exposed on the underside of the roof, thus giving a unique honeycomb effect to the striking dome ceiling.
The circular space configuration provided dual side and rear areas so that multiple group activities could occur simultaneously.
The dome provided a perfect backdrop to where the original football field stood.
Futuristic fisheye view of use as auditorium; dome needed no obscuring interior columns.

Erected 2022 by Whitman Class of 1970.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Arts, Letters, Music • Education • Entertainment • Sports. A significant historical month for this entry is February 2020.

Location. 38° 58.834′ N, 77° 7.698′ W. Marker is in Bethesda, Maryland, in Montgomery County. Marker can be reached from

Artist’s Rendering of the Original Walt Whitman High School Campus, Bethesda, Maryland image. Click for full size.

Pen and watercolor artwork in the collection of Barry Kemelhor, used with permission, circa 1960

3. Artist’s Rendering of the Original Walt Whitman High School Campus, Bethesda, Maryland

the intersection of Whittier Boulevard and Braeburn Parkway, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 7100 Whittier Blvd, Bethesda MD 20817, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within one mile of this marker, measured as the crow flies. “Home of the Dome” (here, next to this marker); Tree Planting Ceremony (within shouting distance of this marker); The Clara Barton House (approx. one mile away); Glen Echo Park: Protest Years 1960 (approx. 1.1 miles away); Glen Echo Park: Spanish Ballroom c. 1943 (approx. 1.1 miles away); Glen Echo Park: Aerial View c. 1954 (approx. 1.1 miles away); Glen Echo Park: Chautaugua c. 1891 (approx. 1.1 miles away); The Clara Barton Trail (approx. 1.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bethesda.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker.

Also see . . .
1. Remembering 50 Years of ‘The Home of The Dome’. 2020 Bethesda Beat article by Mark Walston in Bethesda Magazine. Excerpt:

When completed in 1962, the field house received national attention as the country’s first steel-framed geodesic dome built at a school. The Architectural Record declared the dome “gives more for less.” Modern Steel Construction magazine commented that “whatever the nature of physical education is in this century
Photo in the collection of Barry Kemelhor, used with permission, circa 1965

4. Arial View of the First Walt Whitman High School and its Domed Field House
and the next, the dome should be adaptable enough to accommodate it.” Over the next 30 years, the 3,500-seat dome hosted sports events, convocations, theater productions and concerts featuring chart-topping acts such as singer Wilson Pickett.

(Submitted on October 2, 2022.)

2. 2¼ minute video on the erection of the nearby historical marker.
(Submitted on December 6, 2022.)

3. Presentation of "The Home of the Dome" as qualifying for the Historical Marker Database. (Submitted on September 30, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.)

Artist's Rendering of the Dome’s Interior image. Click for full size.

Artwork in the collection of Barry Kemelhor, used with permission, circa 1960

5. Artist's Rendering of the Dome’s Interior

Credits. This page was last revised on December 7, 2022. It was originally submitted on September 30, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 216 times since then and 31 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 30, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 3, 4, 5. submitted on October 2, 2022, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.