San Francisco Museum Living Roof

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

San francisco museum living roof.

Living roof california academy of sciences museum san francisco california contributor names highsmith carol m 1946 photographer created published 2009 april 30. Rolling hills and 1 7 million plants create an oasis for native species atop the academy s 2 5 acre living roof. Tim griffith california academy of sciences. Living roof the academy s iconic living roof is more than a beautiful architectural feature.

The new building will be an organic extension of the academy s commitment to understand and. The living roof planted with nine local species the 2 5 acre roof is the largest swath of native vegetation in san francisco. Its 2 5 acre undulating greenroof sits 35 feet in the air planted with a variety of over 50 native wildflowers and other species. A building heralded as the greenest museum in the world opens saturday in san francisco.

Our living roof is a marvel of engineering and a testament to the academy s commitment to sustainability. 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. It s critical to the building s heating and cooling efficiency. The six inches of soil substrate on the roof acts as natural insulation and prevents stormwater runoff from carrying pollutants into the ecosystem.

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. That sketch launched plans for what may be the most complicated living roof ever built. Curved steel beams were installed to create a rolling hillside effect like the hills of san francisco. The california academy of sciences features a living green roof with native plants insulation made from.