Abstract: An air-inflated fabric roof of hyperbolic paraboloidal shape including a cable network therein and covering a building or other structure, or a part of a building such as an atrium. The building includes an annular rigid outer structure enclosing an inner area covered by the air-inflated hyperbolic paraboloidal fabric roof having the cable network therein. A pressurization system maintains the building interior at a predetermined pressure above ambient atmospheric pressure to inflate the fabric roof. The cable network includes a rigid, continuous ring member connected to the annular rigid outer structure. A first set of cables extends across the central opening of the ring member in parallel in a first or X direction. A second set of cables extends across the central opening in parallel in a second or Y direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

Abstract: A building includes an annular structure having inner and outer walls and a dome roof enclosing building units. An open space within inner wall is covered by air-supported fabric dome roof. Through selection of surface areas, thicknesses, and coefficients of heat transfer, for a given temperature difference the rate of heat flow through the inner wall is substantially equal to the rate of heat flow through the dome roof, providing optimum efficiency of climate control, including minimizing heat loss or gain, therefore minimizing power requirments for atmospheric control within the building and pen space. Preferably, the surface area of inner wall is substantially equal to the surface area of the dome roof.

Abstract: An air lock or transition chamber for controlling air pressure during ingress and egress from a multi-story building the interior of which is at an elevated air pressure. An elevator car is provided with a substantially air-tight seal on its door. Persons entering the building pass through an entrance lobby or an underground garage and enter the elevator. These locations are at ambient atmospheric pressure. The elevator doors close and the elevator moves to the desired floor, which is at an elevated pressure. As the elevator car moves, the pressure within the elevator increases, either substantially to the elevated pressure of the destination or to a pressure between ambient atmospheric pressure and that elevated pressure. Similarly, as the elevator car returns to the floor at ambient atmospheric pressure, the pressure within the elevator car decreases, either substantially to ambient atmospheric pressure or to a pressure between the elevated pressure and ambient atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: An environmentally controlled building having a covered atrium. The atrium roof can be a conventional rigid roof or an air-supported, flexible, continuous membrane roof. A pressurization system pressurizes the building interior and the atrium relative to the ambient atmospheric pressure outside the building. When the atrium has a membrane roof, this pressure differential inflates the membrane roof to maintain the roof in the desired configuration. Such a membrane roof can be semi-opaque to permit passage of diffused sunlight, permitting some plants to grow, while inhibiting passage of direct sunlight. Air locks are provided at the building entrances and exits to maintain the pressure differential as people enter and leave the building.