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In 2023, The City of Grand Rapids announced plans for the construction of their 12,000-seat Acrisure Amphitheatre along the banks of the Grand River, with a targeted opening in spring 2026. As part of this ambitious $184 million development, the city faced the challenge of relocating its existing public works facilities from an 11.5-acre site on Market Street – all while continuing to provide uninterrupted services to its population of 200,000.

A critical component of the public works operations was the de-icing salt storage dome, which had served the city for over 25 years at the Market Street location. This facility needed to be replaced at the new city services complex planned for 1500 Scribner Avenue, just north of downtown.

To lead the construction of the new complex – which would include office space, vehicle storage, and maintenance facilities – the city contracted Clark Construction, a Michigan-based general contractor. Recognizing the effectiveness of the dome structure at the previous site, Clark Construction contacted Northern Sierra Corporation (NSC) in the fall of 2023. Based on the layout and operational needs of the new site, NSC determined that 8,000 tons of de-icing salt would need to be stored within a footprint of approximately 7,600 square feet.

During the planning phase, Marcus Construction acquired Northern Sierra Corporation to expand its bulk storage offerings. Retaining key NSC personnel, Marcus Construction designed a new 100-foot diameter dome. To achieve the required capacity, the wooden superstructure would be built atop an 18-foot-high, 15-inch-thick steel-reinforced concrete wall, with a sliding bulkhead system that retains the salt within the fully loaded dome.

Construction was a coordinated effort between Clark and Marcus. Clark prepared the site through surveying, ground improvements, and excavation. While Marcus assisted with layout and perimeter setup.

Once excavation and sub-base installation were complete, Marcus began constructing the cylindrical, twenty-sided retaining wall. After installing the below-grade spread footing and grade beam, gang forms were assembled and lifted by crane. Over 300 cubic yards of concrete were poured in three stages over a double-matted rebar skeleton.

Following curing and form removal, erection of the dome’s wooden superstructure began. Over 100 pre-manufactured panels – built at Marcus Construction’s Saginaw, MI facility – were assembled using high-quality lumber, corrosion-resistant fasteners, and industrial-grade adhesive cured under controlled conditions. Thanks to this precision, the dome’s superstructure was completed in under two weeks, with the top placed on the 68-foot-high dome on June 26th. Just two months earlier, the site had been bare ground.

With the dome “dried in,” the asphalt shingle roof was installed over the course of a week. Vinyl siding was added to the entrance and dormers to match the surrounding city service buildings.

The final step was filling the dome in preparation for Grand Rapids’ notorious lake-effect snow. A 250-ton-per-hour stainless steel conveyor system was installed that fills the dome from a below grade hopper located within a conveyor pit.

Start to finish, The City of Grand Rapids new 8,000-ton salt dome only took five months. It maximizes storage capacity within a compact footprint while allowing efficient truck traffic flow. The result is a centrally located hub for dispatching salt trucks across the city – ready to serve Grand Rapids through many winters to come.
In need of road salt or sand storage? Visit www.MarcusConstruction.com to learn more about our dome storage solution.