California Academy of Sciences re-opens in Golden Gate Park
August 14, 2008
On September 27, the California Academy of Sciences opens the doors to its highly anticipated, groundbreaking new facilities in Golden Gate Park. Housing the Kimball Natural History Museum, the Steinhart Aquarium, and the Morrison Planetarium under its "Living Roof," the new Academy is part of San Francisco’s vanguard initiative to set new standards for workable, sustainable public architecture.
The California Academy of Sciences has been a San Francisco landmark for more than 150 years, and is the only institution in the world to combine a museum, aquarium, planetarium, and world-class research and education programs under one roof. This unique combination allows visitors to explore everything from the depths of a Philippine coral reef to the canopy of a Costa Rican rainforest to the outer reaches of the universe — all within a single visit.
The Building
The new facility unifies the Academy’s original array of 12 buildings, which were built over eight decades, into a single, modern monument to eco-conscious architecture. Designed by Pritzker Prize winner Renzo Piano, the structure is designed to create a sense of transparency and connectedness between the building and the surrounding park, while employing sustainable materials and energy-saving technologies.
Crowning the building is the Living Roof, a 2.5-acre expanse of native California plants and wildflowers that creates a new link in the ecological corridor for wildlife. Steep undulations in the roofline roll over the Academy’s domed planetarium, rainforest, and aquarium exhibits, blending in with the lush topography of Golden Gate Park. In addition to reducing storm water runoff by up to 3.6 million gallons per year, the roof is bordered by a glass canopy containing nearly 60,000 photo voltaic cells, which will produce 5-10% of the Academy’s annual energy needs and prevent the release of over 405,000 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions each year. The Living Roof also includes an observation deck where visitors can admire the rooftop wildlife haven and learn about the importance of water conservation.
Museum officials expect the new facility to earn LEED Platinum certification, the highest possible rating, from the U.S. Green Building Council. (Certification will not be determined until after final inspections are completed).
The Exhibits
Though the building is a wonder in and of itself, it’s what’s inside that makes it one of the city’s top attractions.
The Academy boasts a variety of elaborate exhibits showcasing the planet’s diverse ecosystems, from swamplands to tropical depths. The African Hall houses detailed dioramas depicting cheetahs, gorillas, zebras, and more, as well as a colony of live African penguins. Marvel at the Philippine Coral Reef, the world’s deepest living coral reef tank, housing 2,000 technicolor fish and other aquatic friends. Travel from the treetops of Costa Rica to the depths of the Amazonian flooded forest in Rainforests of the World, where an underwater, acrylic tunnel allows you to walk beneath river fish swimming overhead. Face your fears in The Swamp, and come face-to-face with creepy critters like snakes, frogs, salamanders, and an albino alligator. Immerse yourself in Water Planet, an innovative exhibit of 100 aquarium tanks filled with fish, reptiles, amphibians, insects, and other invertebrates, that transforms once an hour into a 360-degree projection theater. Learn about California’s natural history and future at exhibits exploring the state’s climate change and coastal biodiversity, with displays including a towering T. Rex, an 80-foot blue whale skeleton, and a hands-on tidepool.
Once you’ve explored the terrestrial wonders, leave Planet Earth behind without ever leaving your seat, at the world’s largest all-digital planetarium. A live presenter will take you on a flight to the international space station, through the solar system, and to the farthest reaches of the universe.
Have a question about the natural world? Since the Academy also conducts research in 11 fields of natural study, reference librarians and educators are on hand in the Naturalist Center to answer your questions. Bring in your leaves, feathers, rocks, shells, and other personal treasures for identification, look up the latest research on green technologies, or sign up for a special program in the adjoining classrooms and labs.
Planning Your Visit
At $24.95 per adult, admission to the new Academy is fairly steep (see sidebar for details), so if you go, plan to spend most or all of the day and take advantage of the full range of museum exhibits, aquarium displays, and planetarium shows. Or, plan to visit on the third Wednesday of the month, when admission is free. Also note that there is a $3 discount for taking public transportation to the museum.
Pack a picnic lunch to enjoy in the park, or sample the fare at one of the Academy’s two restaurants, run by renowned chefs Charles Phan (chef and owner of The Slanted Door) and Loretta Keller (chef and owner of COCO500), and featuring local, organic, sustainable foods.
Opening Festivities
Join the Academy as they celebrate their opening weekend — September 27-28 — with extended hours, live music and dance, Chinese acrobats, a rock-climbing wall, and much more. Admission on Saturday is free all day, so get there early!