Waterfront Dome? Imagine, instead of the Moran plant, a waterfront dome. Rather, two half-domes. Pictures aid the imagination. One half is a smooth, white concrete shell, striking in any waterside park; the other is striking for its transparency, shown here as a geodesic design. The transparent half moves according to need. All-weather capability is more functional than a plain bandshell. The guiding purpose is open-air theatre and music. The solid half accommodates stage, wings and flies for ambitious theatre, albeit no rival to the Flynn. As for music: acoustic only! Nothing louder than a symphony orchestra. No amplified music on the waterfront, let alone a residential area; audiences of a few hundred, not thousands.

The neatest feature: come rain, the mobile half lowers to canopy position over the audience. Slightly larger than the other half, it both rises and revolves. This is an ellipsoidal dome; a spherical dome would be mechanically simpler but commonplace. Closed at night and in winter, the halves seal by means of two inflatable gaskets at the interface rims. The facility then converts for expositions, conferences, tennis courts, basketball court, skating rink, jogging track, even an auditorium for public hearings on use of the waterfront. Beautiful year-round multi-use is the key. The view from the stage is south-southeast, taking in some lake but shaded [in summer] from the fierce late sun that waterfront residents know. Tricky engineering, entailing design compromises, but this is a practical proposal, I think, ripe for an architect with authoritative attention to detail. Fred G. Hill

1. An elevated, glazed, energy efficient greenhouse structure offering a retreat for enjoyment of the broad visual landscape while providing shelter from the elements. The interior setting would be in fact a botanical garden with live plant matter integrated into public seating areas. Other amenities such as small informative display panels about the genesis of the lake and surrounding topography could be woven into the design. Broad, spectacular views of the western lakeshore as well as the Burlington waterfront and its surrounds would, however, prevail. Environmentally sensitive energy and thermal technology would be employed to yield sufficient heat in the winter months to allow year round use. Inside temperatures would be maintained at moderate heating levels above freezing but not at “living room” temperatures. Plant life could be forthcoming all year. Glazing, while not filling every void, would dominate the design giving the new structure transparency and a respectful impact upon the landscape. A place to enjoy the serenity of Lake Champlain.

2. A small, planetarium would be integrated into the design. Elevated above the tree height, its viewing area would be relatively unobstructed. Operated in conjunction with the Burlington school system, it could provide a rich educational resource destination for field trips and extra curricular activities. Cooperative programs could be developed between the Echo center and the Planetarium. Access would be free to local school families but visitors and those without children in school would be charged, making it self-sustaining and a possibly even a revenue producing amenity.

The building itself could be removed from eyesore status by simply sandblasting and doing a basic cheap job of painting the girders to cover graffiti and rust; slopped paint would simply fall on the ground. Serious scraping can be put off until an idea that the city as a whole likes presents itself. And the sandblasting would be cheap because there are no windows to protect; in fact, the interest we don’t pay on any large project for the time until we do do something would probably cover the cost.

The plant itself, thus cleaned up and worked around and lighted, would no longer be an eyesore or keep people from wanting to pass it. It’s the kind of ugly that eventually becomes rather endearing. And when the right idea for it comes, the people of the city will recognize it. Eugene Sapadin

Each “older” area could demonstrate the little ethnic neighborhoods established in Burlington originally, as well as more recently established “ethnic” areas. For example, from our own family’s background: “Little Jerusalem” centered in the Old North End around Wheeler School in the late 1800’s with its kosher butchers, three synagogues, all in the Archibald Street area.

The data on Burlington history can be retrieved from many sources including the UVM archives (note “We Americans” a thesis by a UVM grad student in the 1940’s). The material is available, as well as the Burlingtonians who can tell the tales. Such a facility would be of great pride to “Old Burlingtonians”, or great interest to those who “came later”, and an inspiration to “newcomers” and those yet to come. One could envision changing exhibits, lectures and demonstrations as part of the museum. It would offer an ongoing memorial to all of us, to the city we have built and continue to build, and a captivating view of who we are, for anyone who takes a glimpse of our hometown. Susanne A. London