An atitude-azimuth mount is specified. 270 in azimuth. The SOAR Telescope will provide two Nasmyth instrument positions as well as three auxiliary bent Cassegrain ports. The dome tracking will be synchronized with the Telescope to minimize the wind loads and the structure should have a downdraft ventilation system to not allow the warm air to flow through the light path.
Natural ventilation is under consideration, also.
The Telescope structure will be anchored in a huge rigid concrete pier, at a height of 12m from the ground surface, to avoid the turbulence layer. The enclosure will be constructed to resist very challenge atmospheric conditions. The facility will be a metal building erected nearby on a grade-level slab. Heat capacity of the building and enclosure exterior coatings will be selected to minimize total solar absorbance and to provide optimum thermal speed.