On Monday the City of Tupelo and Tupelo Public School District broke ground on a storm shelter to be built at Tupelo High School.

Dome Technology is contracted to build the shelter, a 175-foot diameter low-profile dome that will be able to withstand an EF5 tornado. The shelter is designed to accommodate 2,000 students in a wind event, and though a large building, it is being engineered to meet city restrictions on height.

“Due to a height restriction on the site, the dome needed to be a 1:8 ratio—that means (the dome) is really flat,” said Dome Technology sales manager Daren Wheeler. When not used as a storm shelter, the building will be used as a multi-purpose facility.

For video on the groundbreaking and an article with further project details, click here.