D. Thomas Kincaid -- Career Moves Lead To Monolithic Domes
February 3, 2003
by Freda Parker
Architect Tom Kincaid has long been convinced that "We could do a building much like we do a chair -- very quickly with very few pieces, but very strong and economical." That conviction, which eventually led to his interest in Monolithic Domes, dates back to the beginning of Tom's career.
Early Career
"My first degree was in Industrial Design -- the study of the design of furniture, automobiles and so forth," Tom explained. "My degree in Architecture is from the University of Florida, but I also have a long-term interest in Systems Building. So that's the genesis of how I came to Monolithic Domes."
But before leading to Monolithic Domes, Tom's career included designing 12 models of mountain cabins in North Carolina. The cabins ranged in size from 700 to 4000 square feet and used stress skin panels for the floor, roof and walls. "We put the small ones up in three days and the large ones in two weeks," Tom recalled. "As you drove by, you saw a cabin that looked pretty much finished, but it actually took another two months or so for the interior work."
For 27 years, as head of his own firm in Sarasota, Florida, Tom designed more than 20 schools. That experience led him to believe that public buildings, especially schools, should be constructed as invulnerable to natural disasters as possible.
Interest in Monolithic Domes
What's In a Name?Before concluding my interview, I could not resist asking Tom Kincaid, the architect, if people ever mistook him for Thomas Kinkade, the artist. And Tom, the architect, said, "A lot of people ask me. They look right into my face and they say, 'Are you THE Thomas Kincaid?' I look right back at them and say, 'Well, my mother told me I am.'" Tom has some interesting stories about such happenings. One such incident occurred about three years ago, in Houston, when he called an airline, hoping to get a seat on their morning flight. "They told me they were totally booked, but they took my name and number," Tom said. Five minutes later the airline called back. "Mr. Kincaid, we have you booked on our 7:30 a.m. flight," the agent said. "And by the way, are you THE Thomas Kincaid?" she asked. That time, Tom wasn't sure how to reply. Should he tell the truth and not go, or lie and go? "I told them the truth, and they still let me go," Tom said. |
About 15 years ago, Tom found an article written by another architect that described Monolithic Domes, their economy, energy efficiency and survivability. He said that Monolithic's construction methods immediately intrigued him, and he enrolled in a Workshop.
In 1993, the Chicago Tribune launched its "Architectural Competition." The goal of this much-publicized, international contest was finding a workable rebuilding plan for Cabrini-Green. As a native of Illinois, Tom knew Cabrini-Green. It was downtown Chicago's notorious, near-ghetto public housing project.
Tom entered the competition which ultimately received 301 submissions from 10 countries. He was not one of the top three winners, but he was one of 27 who were awarded honorable mentions.
"They wanted low cost, low maintenance and very attractive and that's what I gave them," Tom said. "I proposed bulldozing the 18-story buildings. Anything above the fifth or sixth floor was vacated anyway -- except for crime and trash -- and had been for years. So, bulldoze and dig two lakes. Use materials from the bulldozed structures to build berms and cover them with the dirt from the lakes. That way, people would be looking at green hills that would provide nice landscaping and do away with noise."
For housing, Tom proposed eight- or nine-story Monolithic Dome apartment complexes with efficient individual units, underground heated garages, atriums, and garden areas. "People need space in which they can interface and where they can look at trees, bushes and landscaping," Tom said. His plans also included laundry facilities, community rooms, elementary and high school buildings, and a "sensitivity training program" to help prospective tenants "understand what they had and how to take care of it."
Blair Kamin, the Chicago Tribune's Architecture Critic, did a review of the honorable mentions ("Rebuilding The Community," June 20, 1993). Without assigning names, he described one of the designs as "light bulbs," another as "igloos" and still another as "the Starship Enterprise." Tom never learned which description, if any, was meant for his design. Nevertheless, his submission, along with the other honorables, was sent to the Chicago Athenaeum: The Museum of Architecture and Urban Design, for public viewing and study. But the city of Chicago never implemented any of the plans. Instead, they just painted and patched Cabrini-Green again.
Latest Monolithic Dome Projects
Tom designed the recently completed New Song United Methodist Church in New Bern, North Carolina (see "North Carolina Gets First Monolithic Dome Church"). This Monolithic Dome project will eventually include structures for ministry training programs, child centers, senior citizen centers, a baseball field, a tennis court, and a small lake. Tom said, "I suggested building a stage going onto the lake, with a pulpit and a fountain behind it, and they loved that idea."
Other current projects include a 46' diameter dome near St. Louis and a facility for the Seventh-day Adventists in New Jersey.
"I've seen a lot of projects that never really get built," Tom said. "Usually, these are churches or public buildings like schools and libraries. They don't get built because, when the bids come in, they're often two, three or four hundred thousand over budget. So, I'm looking for and am very impressed with the possibility of putting up a major building with not only an initial savings in construction costs, but with ongoing savings."
Note: D. Thomas Kincaid, A.I.A. has an office in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.
Telephone: (262) 249-0577
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