Anyone who's ever travelled west on the Trans-Canada Highway from Calgary to Banff will have noticed the Lafarge cement plant on the doorstep of the national park.

However, in the past year you may have also noticed the construction of a new structure on the site — a dome that spans 100 metres in diameter and stands roughly 35 metres tall.

​The dome has piqued the curiosity of Bow Valley residents and tourists alike, so the company decided to put out the call for names for the conspicuous new addition.

"We thought we'd have some fun with it," said Jim Bachmann, the Exshaw plant manager.

"There's been quite the buzz in the valley about 'What is that dome?' and 'What's in the dome?'"

What is in the dome?

The dome's purpose is to store the plant's raw materials and to keep the materials from becoming airborne, Bachmann explained on The Calgary Eyeopener. It replaces a number of temporary structures that used to house the materials.

"We're meeting the challenges of improving our environmental footprint," Bachmann said.

This dome at the Lafarge plant in Exshaw needs a name! Any suggestions? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/namethedome?src=hash">#namethedome</a> <a href="https://t.co/uCt0gk7eGD">pic.twitter.com/uCt0gk7eGD</a> —@CBCEyeopener Currently the lightweight aluminum structure is known as the "circular stacker reclaimer" to those who work there, Bachmann said. But he's also heard suggestions such as "Thunderdome" and "Spaceship" for possible names.

The contest is open to residents of the Bow Valley and anyone in Municipal District Bighorn.

Ideas should be sent to Michelle Gurney at michelle.gurney@lafargeholcim.com before Feb. 24.

Contestants are asked to include their name and phone number along with their name suggestion.

The winner of the competition secures bragging rights, along with a VIP tour of the plant, and $1,000 donated to a charity of their choice.