Press Release

Stephanie Stone (415) 379-5121
sstone@calacademy.org

Andrew Ng (415) 379-5123

CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
REBUILDING PROJECT FACT SHEET

Project Description

The California Academy of Sciences is constructing a dynamic new facility in Golden Gate Park. The new Academy will combine innovative green architecture with inventive exhibitions to inspire its visitors to explore and protect the natural world. The new Academy will house Steinhart Aquarium, Morrison Planetarium, and the Kimball Natural History Museum.
 
Opening Date Fall 2008
 
Groundbreaking Date September 2005
 
Design Features and Integration into Golden Gate Park
  • The new Academy will be integrated more sensitively into the natural environment of Golden Gate Park.
  • The facility will employ energy-efficient, environmentally-sensitive building technologies that will set a new standard for sustainable architecture in civic buildings.
  • A living planted roof will feature undulating hills that echo the landscape around the Academy. A small portion of the roof will be accessible to visitors and will feature an exhibit area.
     
Exhibitions and Public Spaces Highlights
  • The new Academy will feature flexible, integrated exhibition spaces. Portions of the Academy's research collections will be visible to museum visitors, and special programs will offer visitors the chance to interact with Academy biologists.
  • The new Morrison Planetarium will feature state-of-the-art exhibits and digital technology.
  • The new Steinhart Aquarium will include a two-story Swamp; the world's deepest living coral reef display; a Discovery Tidepool, and hundreds of "jewel" tanks to showcase the stunning diversity of aquatic life.
  • A dramatic four-story Rainforests of the World exhibit will offer a vertical journey through four different rainforest habitats.
  • Live animals will be displayed throughout the museum, including penguins in the restored African Hall.
  • A new piazza will sit at the heart of the building, and views into Golden Gate Park from within the new facility will strengthen the Academy's relationship to the park.
     
Enhanced Education Spaces and Services
  • A new hands-on Naturalist Center will be staffed by education specialists and will feature labs and classrooms.
  • An expanded early childhood education center will cater to children up to age six and their caregivers.
  • A new Auditorium will feature flexible set-up options and retractable seating.
     
Construction Figures
  • 11 million pounds of steel and 137 million pounds (34,000 cubic yards) of concrete will be used in the new building.
  • The heaviest steel beam in the undulating roof weighs 18,000 pounds and must stretch nearly 100 feet without the support of structural columns in order to curve across the top of the Planetarium dome.
  • The soil and plants on the living roof will weigh more than 2.6 million pounds. 50,000 biodegradable coconut husk trays filled with six inches of soil will be used to install 1.7 million native California plants in the roof.
  • Nearly three miles (12,000 ft) of aquarium pipes were laid below the basement of the new building and encased in 4,000 cubic yards of protective concrete.
  • The six largest tanks in the new aquarium will hold over 500,000 gallons of water and 18 acrylic viewing panels that weigh a collective 82 tons.
  • The acrylic panels had to be baked at 175°F for up to 30 days to properly cure.
  • The heaviest acrylic viewing panel weighs 40,000 pounds and is 17 inches thick. It separates the elevator shaft from the Amazonian Flooded Forest tank in the rainforest and withstands a water pressure force of 159,000 pounds.
     
Facility Dimensions Total square footage in new Academy: 410,000 square feet. Total public space: 100,000 square feet. The new Academy will have more useable square footage than the previous facility but will leave a smaller footprint in the park due to the addition of a basement and more efficient use of interior space.
 
Temporary Home The Academy is located at 875 Howard Street during the construction period. This temporary home features aquatic animals from Steinhart Aquarium and prototypes of exhibits planned for the new Academy.
 
Project Team Architecture: Renzo Piano Building Workshop (Genoa, Italy); Stantec Architecture (formerly Chong Partners Architecture) (San Francisco). Engineering and Sustainability Consulting: Arup. Landscape Architecture: SWA Group. General Contractor: Webcor Builders.
 
Project Cost The Academy's rebuilding project will cost approximately $488 million. Included in this figure are costs associated with the Academy's temporary home and the new exhibition program.
 
Funding The Academy's rebuilding project is a result of a public/private partnership. Through early gifts and public funding, the Academy has secured more than $396 million. This includes $140 million as provided by public bond funds approved by San Francisco voters in 1995 (Prop C) and 2000 (Prop B) and the State of California. The balance of the funds will be raised through private individual, corporate, and foundation contributions to the Campaign for the New Academy.
 
Media Contacts Stephanie Stone
Tel: 415-379-5121
sstone@calacademy.org		 Andrew Ng
Tel: 415-379-5123
ang@calacademy.org

 


The California Academy of Sciences is home to Steinhart Aquarium, Morrison Planetarium and the Kimball Natural History Museum. The Academy is in the midst of an extensive rebuilding project in Golden Gate Park. Pritzker prize-winning architect Renzo Piano is designing the new Academy, which is scheduled to open on September 27, 2008. www.calacademy.org (415) 379-8000.

# # # #