Exploratorium at Pier 15 in San Francisco, California by EHDD

Article source: The American Institute of Architects (AIA)

The Exploratorium is an internationally known science museum focused on hands-on exhibits of natural phenomena. They recently moved to this new location, carefully restoring the historic Pier 15 on San Francisco’s downtown waterfront. Visitors can now experience 80,000 square feet of science exhibits in the historic structure, with new cafes and event space located in the contrasting modern glazed observatory with unobstructed views of San Francisco Bay. The building also offers a theatre, more than a dozen classrooms, labs, and teacher training rooms, wood and metal workshops, two retail stores, offices, and a large outdoor plaza.

Image Courtesy © Bruce Damonte

• Architects: EHDD
• Project: Exploratorium at Pier 15
• Location: Pier 15 San Francisco, California, United States
• Photography: Bruce Damonte
  
• Project Owner: Exploratorium
• Project Site: Historic structure or district
• Project Type: Education – General Food Service Restaurant/Cafeteria Public Assembly – Entertainment/Culture Retail Store
• Project Site Context/Setting: Urban
• Total project cost at time of completion, land excluded: $220,000,000.00
• Building or Project Gross Floor Area: 301,099 square feet
• Project Completion Date: April, 2013

Image Courtesy © Bruce Damonte

The new location has excellent connectivity to the city and includes no parking for the more than 1,000,000 visitors a year. A major new public plaza filled with exhibits and event space replaces the former parking deck between the two piers. It brings public life and energy to a formerly blank stretch of the waterfront. The design takes advantage of the original pier building’s original clerestories for daylighting, 800’ long roof for PVs, and uses the water below for baywater radiant cooling.

For Full Project, click here.

Image Courtesy © Bruce Damonte

Image Courtesy © Bruce Damonte

Image Courtesy © Bruce Damonte

Image Courtesy © Bruce Damonte

Image Courtesy © Bruce Damonte

Image Courtesy © Bruce Damonte

Image Courtesy © Bruce Damonte

Image Courtesy © Bruce Damonte

Image Courtesy © Bruce Damonte

Image Courtesy © Bruce Damonte

Image Courtesy © Bruce Damonte

Image Courtesy © EHDD

Image Courtesy © EHDD

Image Courtesy © EHDD

Image Courtesy © EHDD

Tags: California, USA

Categories: Museum, Science Centre

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