The Amphibia structure at night before its canopy was put on.

The steel structure is approximately 53 feet in diameter with a central tower that is 32 feet high. The central tower consists of five vertical trusses. In the midst of these trusses at about the 24 foot lever is a 12 foot diameter observation deck which is be accessible by a ladder that goes up the middle of the central tower.

Attached to the tower elements at the 16 foot level are 15 twenty four-foot long roof trusses that support fabric shade material.  With the fabric stretching 6 feet beyond the steel structure the tent is about 65 feet in diameter. There are approximately 3300 square feet of floor space under roof.

The structure is made of steel with as much of it as possible being recycled or scrap.

The carpeted inside includes couches, chairs and tables. A stage was available for lectures and acoustic performances and there was a movie screen, too.

The structure was designed by Royce Carlson (a.k.a. Mr. God) and was built in a series of work parties in 2007. Royce has designed and built other large steel structures before including the 60' diameter geodesic dome that housed Alex Grey's Chapel of Sacred Mirrors at Burning Man 2006. He created the Center Camp Cafe main portal in 2001, and a 20' tall wind sculpture called COSMOS for Burning Man 2004.

The planet named Amphibia
is wet and deeply green.

It’s quite a bit like Earth was once,
when dinosaurs were seen.

And on this planet far away
a special frog was born one day…

Infinity!—a hero’s name,
this frog was destined for Earth fame.

They told her the assignment—to save the frogs on Earth.

“Our cousins are endangered there,
 the humans rule without a care.

They’re stuck on greed and foolish pride, they do not see that deep inside,

They’re part of nature, not above it,
they need to learn to truly love it.

Act with LOVE and off you go—
be sure to give them all a show!"

And off she flew through deepest space
toward a new and different place.

She flew too fast for us to see,
She earned her name—Infinity!

At last she came to planet Earth,
a precious thing of unknown worth.

Where to start? She made her plan
to visit first the Burning Man.

***

The Amphibia story is excerpted and altered from an upcoming children's book by Juanita Hull-Carlson