San Francisco Museum Living Roof

Learn more about the 2 5 acre oasis atop the museum.

San francisco museum living roof.

Living roof the academy s iconic living roof is more than a beautiful architectural feature. 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. A living roof will slope over interior exhibitions and read as hills against the natural landscape.

It s critical to the building s heating and cooling efficiency. Our living roof is a marvel of engineering and a testament to the academy s commitment to sustainability. Rolling hills and 1 7 million plants create an oasis for native species atop the academy s 2 5 acre living roof. The new building will be an organic extension of the academy s commitment to understand and.

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. Tim griffith california academy of sciences. A building heralded as the greenest museum in the world opens saturday in san francisco.

The living roof planted with nine local species the 2 5 acre roof is the largest swath of native vegetation in san francisco. Living roof california academy of sciences museum san francisco california contributor names highsmith carol m 1946 photographer created published 2009 april 30. Its 2 5 acre undulating greenroof sits 35 feet in the air planted with a variety of over 50 native wildflowers and other species. The six inches of soil substrate on the roof acts as natural insulation and prevents stormwater runoff from carrying pollutants into the ecosystem.