The Ohio Historic Preservation Office in Columbus and the National Park Service in Washington, D.C. were responsible for making sure that Dimit Architects – who were brought on board to mostly service the interior furnishings – preserved all of the original building materials and retain the project’s historic integrity. According to Metropolis, these included copper fin-tub radiators, a large single pane of plate glass, and open tread stainless steel stairways.
The geodesic dome – possibly the largest in the world at 250 feet in diameter – has undergone previous tuneups and was therefore left untouched during this renovation. But it remains structurally sound, and gives the offices its undeniably rich visual presence!
+ Dimit Architects
Via Metropolis Magazine
All images courtesy of Scott at Pease Photography
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Anything that has a Buckminster Fuller stamp on it gets our attention, so when we learned that ASM International’s headquarters in Russell Township received a $7 million upgrade, we had to tune in. Metropolis magazine reported that when Terence Kelly’s original crescent-shaped building, which was complemented by Bucky Fuller’s largest dome, turned 50 in 2009, it became eligible for a National Register of Historic Places listing and $2.5 million in tax credits. So ASM decided to take advantage of…
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In 1950, Terrence Kelly recruited Buckminster Fuller to help him design the new ASM International headquarters in Russell Township
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The site is located just east of Cleveland in Ohio
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When the offices turned 50, it became eligible for a National Historical Registry listing and $2.5 million in tax breaks
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The ASM board decided to take advantage of the tax breaks and enlisted Dimit Architects to give a hand
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The Ohio Preservation Society and National Park Service were responsible for ensuring that the project’s historic integrity remained intact
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All of the original materials needed to be preserved
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Copper fin-tub radiators, a large single pane plate of glass, and open tread stainless steel stairways are among the materials preserved
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The renovation project cost $7 million and was completed last year
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Buckminster Fuller’s geodesic dome had received upgrades previously and was left untouched this time
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The dome remains structurally sound
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This is a wonderful example of caring for America’s historic projects, and in particular, Buckminster Fuller’s enduring legacy!
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