San Francisco Museum Living Roof

A building heralded as the greenest museum in the world opens saturday in san francisco.

San francisco museum living roof.

It s critical to the building s heating and cooling efficiency. A living roof will slope over interior exhibitions and read as hills against the natural landscape. One of san francisco s most exciting green projects is the construction. 1 5 california academy of sciences green roof san francisco green roof san francisco green building sustainable museum.

The california academy of sciences features a living green roof with native plants insulation made from. Learn more about the 2 5 acre oasis atop the museum. Our living roof is a marvel of engineering and a testament to the academy s commitment to sustainability. The six inches of soil substrate on the roof acts as natural insulation and prevents stormwater runoff from carrying pollutants into the ecosystem.

The new building will be an organic extension of the academy s commitment to understand and. The living roof planted with nine local species the 2 5 acre roof is the largest swath of native vegetation in san francisco. In size and design the academy roof is unprecedented marked by seven domes and steep hillocks envisioned by celebrity lead architect renzo piano as a nod to san francisco s undulating topography. Curved steel beams were installed to create a rolling hillside effect like the hills of san francisco.

Rolling hills and 1 7 million plants create an oasis for native species atop the academy s 2 5 acre living roof. Its 2 5 acre undulating greenroof sits 35 feet in the air planted with a variety of over 50 native wildflowers and other species. Tim griffith california academy of sciences. Living roof the academy s iconic living roof is more than a beautiful architectural feature.