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The Exploratorium
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The new Exploratorium along San Francisco's historic waterfront is
the largest net-zero energy-use museum in the U.S., if not the world.
Integral has reason to be proud. The company's pioneering work
on The Exploratorium museum has led to a groundbreaking,
imaginative and innovative landmark that is now one of the
world's greenest museums. Small wonder the company considers
it "the most significant project we've done to date."
Building the new 31,000m
2
headquarters, however, was not
just a matter of putting pen to paper but took the persistence
and dedication of many experts. The result was LEED Platinum
certification and the largest netzero museum in the world. This
means that, while in operation, The Exploratorium will produce
more energy onsite than it will consume on an annual basis.
The Exploratorium is a marvel of deep sustainability. The roof is
outfitted with a 1.3megawatt photovoltaic array, which covers
almost two acres of the roof. For ventilation, natural fresh air
wafts into the structure through a series of overhead ducts. For
illumination, the building takes advantage of the original pier
building's natural lighting.
Materials are both sustainable and durable enough to withstand
a harsh maritime climate. Also included in the project are a bay
watercooling system, radiant heating and cooling, and heat
pump heating.
The old Exploratorium was a trailblazer in its own right, a
museum the New York Times named "the most important science
museum to have opened since the mid20
th
century". The new
Exploratorium follows the same pioneering path. The nature of
its exhibits, its sophisticated teacher training program, and, most
of all, its pioneering building design all contribute to making it an
exemplar of green museums.
by Daniela Maldonado, Integral Group
A groundbreaking net-zero museum