California Academy of Sciences

The new California Academy of Sciences has risen on the same site of the former Academy in Golden Gate Park. The design required the demolition of most of the 11 existing buildings, built between 1916 and 1991. Its primary goal is to provide a modern facility for exhibition, education, conservation and research under one roof according to sustainable design strategies. Natural ventilation instead of air conditioning for large parts of the building, carefully chosen building materials, an efficient use and re-use of water, as well as the generation of energy, are integral parts of the design. Three historic parts of the former Academy (the African and North American Halls, and the entrance to the Steinhart Aquarium) were maintained in different ways as a memory of the past (text from website architect).