Igloo shaped bulk storage building, Gateway Metroport

[wlbblw]

Kinda dumb to put a wet product into a building specifically built for dry bulk storage. That makes no sense. Of course it didn't dry out & rotted the whole place into the ground.

Anyway, I'm still surprised that they chose Lackawanna. Usually we're on the losing end of these sorts of things. It doesn't help me much in my hobbby, that dock is pretty much off limit but it's good for business .

[old sparky]

There was 3 of these across the street from my house in Port Stanley, they lasted about 30 years. Built for potash and later for corn storage, and were quite strong, one even surviving an unloading boom collapse and later being hit by a loader from the inside. Their demise was caused by storing some wet byproduct of paper making. The moisture rotted the sheeting and structure from the inside. They were posted by building inspector and one night one just collapsed. I have pictures but can't get them to load. You can still see the circles of the concrete walls on google earth, zoom onto Port Stanley and go to south west part of harbor. Nice little harbor no longer maintained for shipping.

[wlbblw]

Hmm, I tried searching for info on it, but got bogged down with all sorts of unrelated web sites. I even looked on Business First, but must have just chose the wrong keywords to search. Whatever. Seems like a big secret. I wonder why they don't have this covered in the local media? Thanks for the links Mr Link, you've usually got in the inside info.

[Mr Link]

It involves a tax abatement, so there is some information online.

http://www.bizjournals.com/buffalo/news ... l?page=all

http://www.ecidany.com/app/file/217

The minutes for the public hearing show that it lasted 15 minutes or less and that the only two people there were a manager and lawyer representing North American Salt.

This company apparently designed and/or built the buildings for the bagging plant and warehouse. Didn't find anything on the dome however.

http://www.tedescoconstruction.com/clie ... lt-company

[wlbblw]

Very interesting. The one they built in Lackawanna looks a lot like the Saginaw River ones in Guest7's links & pics. Flat top, brown shingles, & faceted sides. Problem is, it's about 1/2 a mile into private property & I can't see it very well since it's lower portion is hidden by some buildings & trees. Odd thing is, there's absolutely No information in the local news media or on line about it. Seems strange that no one is covering such a big investment & improvement to the area's only Port Authority type bulk handling facility. Not quite sure what the whole thing is about. Heard it might involve Sifto & some sort of bagging operation, but I really don't know.

[Guest]

I don't Know the companies that manufacture them, but I remember that when I worked at The Port of Indiana--Portage, they had one. It was a Potash storage building. It was all-wood because Potash attacks metal (it's more destructive than Salt). Lakes & Rivers Co. took over the building, using it as combination office & storage (not Potash storage) space. I often went inside, and was amazed that such a large dome structure could be built entirely of wood.
Similar all-wood structures line the Interstates for Salt storage.
bhale849

[Raildudes dad - GR]

Monolith Inc. http://www.monolithic.org/storages

If you google dome systems you will find several references to Dome Systems Inc from Indiana. They patented and built many of the early storage domes. Some of the earlier ones (early 80's) are at "The Anderson's" in Webberville MI, very visible from I-96, Kent County Road Commission in Grand Rapids along US 131 in 1988 and a second one for the Road Commission in 1991 near the airport. They were building them all around the country at the time. One of the principles died unexpectedly and the company went into a decline and eventually closed doors.

Monolith appears to have obtained the patent (if still in effect) and are the major player in large storage structures. They built 2 for the Oakland County Road Commission last fall. One is visible from I-696 / M-10 interchange near Southfield

It is a superior storage facility for dry bulk. The outer membrane is waterproof, the concrete "wall/roof" is virtually indestructible and can be completely filled with product that weighs as much as water. The "walls" can take any hit from a truck with a high box or any size heavy equipment (dozer, loader etc.). They are virtually maintenance free.

[Guest]

Just to add what I just wrote. Search for "storage domes" or "salt storage domes".

[Guest]

Might this link be of assistance to you?

http://www.rubbusa.com/project-logistec ... ge-project

[guest7]

Try a Google search on "Salt Storage Sheds", then look for photos of they style they are building. That might lead you to a manufacturer or designer, although there are 100's of styles and sizes out there.

Here are 2 links to the dock in Essexville owned by Wirt Stone. Currently unused I believe. It has 3 circular sheds and one oval shaped one. All can be filled by self unloaders, or from rail cars using the one rotating conveyor that serves all four sheds. Note that the east end of the oval shed was being repaired after it burned. Wood is a common material for the roofs since it isn't affected by salt, potash or fertilizers.


Film office photos (look at the slide show):
http://mi.reel-scout.com/loc_detail.asp ... dist=&zip=

Aerial view:

https://maps.google.com/maps?ll=43.6136 ... 9&t=h&z=18

[wlbblw]

I tried 10 different ways to search this but I can't find any info about the igloo shaped bulk storage buildings like the one they're installing at the Gateway Metroport in Lackawanna. Is there a brand name out there I can look up? I'm interested in them because this is the 1st one they've ever built here. Looks like maybe the boat pulls up & unloads into the top of it?