NL Mitchell Water Treatment Plant

Driving to town, as you round the corner, near Lake Daniel, this photographed dome takes you by surprise! To our untrained eyes, this structure at the corner of Battleground Avenue and Bryan Blvd. appears to be a geodesic dome. Buckminster Fuller coined the term "geodesic dome" in 1948-9 while at Black Mountain College, near Asheville, NC. Fuller is attributed to popularizing the structure and naming the dome; however, Walther Bauersfeld actually designed the first one to house a planetarium, just after WWI. Can you believe that this  triangular, lattice-shelled surface predates Art Deco, flappers, Suffrage, the Great Depression, and the Jazz Age!

According to the City of Greensboro's website, the NL Mitchell Water Treatment Plant is 80 years old and in deteriorating and is scheduled to be replaced. The current structure holds three million gallons of treated water, ready for our consumption.Three million gallons is a mighty big fish tank!  Wonder if the new one, slated to hold a mere one million gallons, will have the same appearance!

 

Comments

[Jane Mitchell]

I didn't realize that Bryan Blvd. extended that far. It used to be called Benjamin Parkway as it crossed Westover Terrace and continued by Friendly Shopping Center. I wonder if Benjamin Pkwy. has been reduced to the small section that runs in front of Benjamin Library? I, of course, still refer to it as Benjamin Parkway until it becomes the new section of Bryan Blvd.

[Greensboro Daily Photo]

Great question Jane! On the website of the water treatment plant, they say that it is on Bryan Blvd. Since I'd forgotten to take a picture of the street signs, something I usually do when on a photo shoot, I just copied the city's website. I do think Bryan Blvd. has engulfed much of Benjamin Parkway. It would be nice for someone with the history on this matter to respond. At least we are asking the questions. Thank you for pointing out the discrepancy in street names. We love to get these local discussions going.

Mrs. GDP

[Dina in Jerusaelm]

It is a bit mysterious. Nice.