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.

Tim griffith california academy of sciences. Its 2 5 acre undulating greenroof sits 35 feet in the air planted with a variety of over 50 native wildflowers and other species. Curved steel beams were installed to create a rolling hillside effect like the hills of san francisco. That sketch launched plans for what may be the most complicated living roof ever built.

Learn more about the 2 5 acre oasis atop the museum. A living roof will slope over interior exhibitions and read as hills against the natural landscape. The california academy of sciences features a living green roof with native plants insulation made from. Living roof california academy of sciences museum san francisco california contributor names highsmith carol m 1946 photographer created published 2009 april 30.

Our living roof is a marvel of engineering and a testament to the academy s commitment to sustainability. It s critical to the building s heating and cooling efficiency. 1 5 california academy of sciences green roof san francisco green roof san francisco green building sustainable museum. 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.

Living roof the academy s iconic living roof is more than a beautiful architectural feature. The living roof planted with nine local species the 2 5 acre roof is the largest swath of native vegetation in san francisco. One of san francisco s most exciting green projects is the construction. The san francisco based bernard osher foundation made a 20 million donation to the new academy project in support of the living roof and the four story osher rainforest exhibit.