Museums Go Green from Coast to Coast

By Adrian Rozendaal, Student of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago

The Water Planet exhibit at the California Academy of Sciences (CAS) features an ever-changing array of aquarium tanks set into curvilinear walls that evoke ocean waves. Photo © Tim Griffith

Museums are intended to highlight the greatest level of human endeavors and achievements. We visit museums whether it be an art, science, history or rock and roll museum, to experience and explore feats of the human spirit that have earned a prominent place in our hearts and minds as a lasting part of our collective cultural heritage. The role museums fill as preservers of the past is well-known. What is far more subtle and telling is their responsibility to showcase the present human experience and their vital role in shaping our future. Currently, some of America’s foremost museums are going green, reflecting the present Age of Sustainability.

A prominent sign of the commitment of some museums to sustainability is proven by the California Academy of Sciences (CAS) in San Francisco. This inspiring structure contains an aquarium, planetarium, natural history museum, and a 4-story indoor rainforest. The California Academy of Sciences is a LEED Platinum certified public building, and is the greenest museum in the world, not to mention an astoundingly beautiful architectural masterpiece (in purely aesthetic terms).The California Academy of Sciences was designed by Renzo Piano (Renzo Piano Building Workshop) and represents a sophisticated integration of sustainable technologies, art, architecture, and nature.

The original colonnaded entrance to Steinhart Aquarium (CAS) was recreated, as well as the popular Swamp tank, which houses alligators and alligator snapping turtles. Photo © Tim Griffith

CAS’ Greg Farrington, Executive Director, by the rainforest dome. Photo © Caroline Kopp

While the California Academy of Sciences is a LEED Platinum facility, the Academy’s staff continues to work diligently to manage the Academy in a sustainable manor and tries to utilize the facility to positively influence visitors. Aaron Pope, Manager of Sustainable Programs, California Academy of Sciences, told Green Space Today, “We feel that managing the Academy in a sustainable way is important for us because it reduces our carbon footprint and sets a good example in the community. Becoming a sustainable organization is a process and we want to inspire other organizations and people to take similar measures and one of the ways to do this is through our exhibits. We want to teach people that the products, such as recycled blue jean installation, and the design features we used are transferable. People from San Francisco have a great appreciation for the Academy, but people from all over the world are coming here because of their interest in the environment too”.

The growing interest in sustainability is reflected by the success of the Museum of Science and Industry’s (Chicago, IL) Smart Home: Green + Wired exhibit. In an interview with Green Space Today, Anne Rashford, Director of Temporary Exhibits & Events for the Museum of Science and Industry, said “More than 100,000 visitors have gone through the exhibit, which exceeded our expectations.” The Smart Home: Green + Wired exhibit consists of a tour through a 2,500 square foot, three story “green” home and grounds located in the park adjacent to the Museum’s legendary campus. The Smart Home features the latest in green technology and design. The design is called mkSolaire and was conceived by Michelle Kaufmann Designs (an architecture firm founded in 2002 and based in Oakland, CA that specializes in sustainable, high-quality architecture).

Architect Renzo Piano in the piazza at the California Academy of Sciences. Photo © Caroline Kopp

The Smart Home has been honored with the Environmental Protection Agency’s Native Landscaping Award and was inducted into the Environmental Hall of Fame. J. Jeffery Johnson, AIA, LEED AP, Senior Project Manager, Facilities and Operations, Museum of Science and Industry, told Green Space Today, “The Museum of Science and Industry wants to be the greenest museum in Chicago by educating people through its exhibits and by taking sustainable actions. Through the Smart Home, we wanted to make people aware of cost-effective sustainable measures.” Due to the exhibits tremendous popularity, the Smart Home will re-open on March 19, 2009.

Another Chicago-based green project is The Modern Wing at The Art Institute of Chicago. Like the California Academy of Sciences, the Modern Wing was designed by Renzo Piano. The Modern Wing is currently under construction, but when completed, the Modern Wing will also include sustainable elements. In the Modern Wing, art will be enhanced by the flow of natural light filtered through the building’s unique sunshade roof (comprised of computer-modeled blades). The sunshade roof will provide superlative lighting conditions and will conserve energy too. In addition, a high percentage of construction waste is being recycled. The Modern Wing at the Art Institute of Chicago will seek LEED Silver certification and will be open to the public on May 16, 2009 for both environmental and art enthusiasts to enjoy.

The CAS' 90-foot-diameter planetarium dome is cantilevered out over the Philippine Coral Reef tank - the world's deepest living display of corals. Photo © Tim Griffith

Chicago is also home to other cultural institutions such as the Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies’ new facility, which opened to the public on November 30, 2007. Since it’s completion in 2007, the facility has received over thirty major awards and a showering of praise from the press. Newscity named it the Best New Piece of Architecture in November 2008; the Chicago Architecture Foundation selected Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies as the 2008 Patron of the Year. Also, the building received LEED Silver certification.

Designed by Krueck and Sexton Architects, Spertus’ new building has a number of green features, including a 6,700-square foot green roof that helps to reduce the urban heat effect. With a 29% energy reduction, the Institute lessens its carbon emissions by 550 tons per year. Like the California Academy of Sciences, the Spertus Institute incorporates sustainable management practices, including a wide-ranging recycling program. Even cooking oil (used in the facility’s restaurant) is recycled and then transformed into a healthier alternative fuel. Comfort is a staple of sustainability and the Institute employs humidly controls that not only protect valuables, but supply people with superior air quality.

Our Age of Sustainability is also being reveled through contemporary art. Art is increasingly being created through recycled and eco-friendly materials such as low-VOC paint. Sustainability is being encouraged by universities and religious and community groups, which is in turn reflected in students’ art. An example of this is the Green Menorah Contest. In 2008, this annual contest consisted of participatory students from colleges such as Columbia College Chicago and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Students created menorahs using sustainable and recycled supplies that were displayed. Menorahs were then judged by Professor Sharon Starkman, Columbia College Chicago; Professor Nadine Bopp, MLA, School of the Art Institute in Chicago; and Professor Odile Compagnon, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. The winner of the contest (sponsored by the Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago and Hillels Around Chicago/Hillels Around the Loop among others) received a cash prize. Galit Greenfield, former Program Director, Hillel Arts in The Loop, told Green Space Today “By doing this contest for the second time, we are raising the awareness of students to conserve energy and respect the environment.

Aaron Pope, Manager of Sustainable Programs, California Academy of Sciences

Boston-based museums such as the Boston Children’s Museum have gone green in recent years. The Boston Children’s Museum gave Shawmut Design & Construction the assignment to serve as the construction manager for the renovation of a 150,000 square foot existing facility and for the new construction of a 23,000 square foot glass-enclosed atrium. Recycled and local building materials were used during construction and the Museum’s efficiency was improved through an air handling system. Shawmut Design & Construction was directly in charge of waste management, ensuring indoor air quality, and the submittals and materials procurements. The new addition received LEED Gold certification.  

In an interview with Green Space Today, Sue Viglione, Director of the Museum Group, Shawmut Design & Construction, said “Since a lot of art-work was created in natural daylight, one would think that museum-goers would want to view art in natural daylight. For all museums, especially art museums, there are long-run operating concerns that green building applications can help to alleviate. Also, sustainable design can improve a museum-goers experience because the way I understand the goals of sustainability includes the comfort of human-beings.”

Recycled denim insulation was applied to the California Academy of Sciences. Drew Altizer Photography

Distinguished American museums (and other cultural institutions) from the Pacific to the Atlantic are going green for a variety of reasons. Saving long-term costs, providing guests and staff with a healthy space, educating environmental enthusiasts, and enhancing and (or) protecting art and collections are among these key reasons. As a result, our environment is better protected and Earth’s greatest artistic form-nature-is sustained for future generations to enjoy. 

Exterior of the Smart Home JB Spector, Museum of Science and Industry (MSI)

Roof Top Garden, The Smart Home JB Spector, Museum of Science and Industry

Third Floor Roof Deck on The Smart Home JB Spector, Museum of Science and Industry

Anne Rashford, Director of Temporary Exhibits & Events for the Museum of Science and Industry, and the Smart Home’s architect Michelle Kaufmann, founder of Michelle Kaufmann Designs, pose at the MSI’s Smart Home: Green + Wired exhibit.

J. Jeffery Johnson, AIA, LEED AP, Senior Project Manager, Facilities and Operations, Museum of Science and Industry JB Spector, Museum of Science and Industry

The dining room table in the Smart Home was made from recycled Ash Tree. JB Spector, Museum of Science and Industry

 

The living room, The Smart Home JB Spector, Museum of Science and Industry Inset: LifeTouch Panel for the Home Automation System JB Spector, Museum of Science and Industry

 

 

Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies’ new facility (Chicago) opened to the public on November 30th, 2007. This new LEED Silver facility incorporated green building components and continues to be operated/managed in a sustainable way. (Architect and Interior Designer: Krueck + Sexton Architects; General Contractor: W.E. O’Neil Construction; Associate Architect: VOA Associates, Inc.; Engineers: Daniel Weinbach & Partners; Tylk, Gustafson, Reckers, Wilson, Andrews; and Environmental Systems Design; Commissioning Agent: U.S. Equities Development; Environmental Consultant: Atelier Ten; Lighting: ISP Design, Inc; Acoustical Design: Kirkegaard Associates). J. Mark Andersen

 

Left: Jan Tichy, MFA in Sculpture, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, created this green menorah to reflect the growing popularity of commuting by bike in Chicago. The menorah is made out of recycled bike sprockets.  Jan Tichy received 1st prize for this creation. Right: Created by Mike Null, Photography, Columbia College Chicago, this menorah is a composite of these two former melody makers. Its formal composition borrows from Art Noveau and Josef Hoffmann.

Left: Boston Children’s Museum Courtesy of Shawmut Design & Construction Center: Boston Children’s Museum Courtesy of Shawmut Design & Construction Right: Sue Viglione, Director of the Museum Group, Shawmut Design & Construction Courtesy of Shawmut Design & Construction