American Museum of Natural History, Rose Center for Earth and Space
The new Rose Center brings us face to face with something commensurate to our capacity for wonder..this is a mature modern building, a structure unafraid of revealing the deep roots from which modern architecture arose.
Herbert Muschamp, Architecture Critic.
photography by © Jeff-Goldberg
The building is designed as a visible expression of the science it contains. Transparency of the curtain wall demystifies and illuminates the cube’s contents, both enhancing the presence of the sphere and revealing its gravitational force to serve the institution’s goal to “de-brick” science.
Exhibits are integrated with the architecture and the larger sequence throughout the building to create a seamless union of structure, form, and function. A clear and flexible sequence of spaces and educational experiences begins with the building itself, whose structure, skin and systems are models of the most advanced technologies made accessible by means of both the literal and metaphoric transparency of the design.
photography by © Jeff-Goldberg
In concert with the building, hands-on exhibits, interactive experiences, pervasive technology, media and real-time feeds facilitate learning at every level, dramatizing the study of earth and space and attracting adults and children to participate physically and intellectually in the education and exhibition programs.
The cube is a bold, striking contrast to the designated landmark complex. The building contributes to the social and environmental stability of its urban precinct by completing the Museum’s north side, restoring a public park and creating a new public outdoor space.
photography by © Richard-Barnes
Project Info
Architects: Ennead
Location: New York
Year: 2000
Size: 379,000 GSF
Design Partners: Todd Schliemann, James S. Polshek
Management Partner: Joseph Fleischer
Project Designer: David Wallance
Project Manager: Tyler Donaldson
Project Architect: Kalavati Somvanshi
Interiors: Charmian Place
Core Design Team: Judi Bauer, John Jordan, John Lowery, V. Guy Maxwell, Craig McIlhenny, William Van Horn, Matt Viederman, Jo Walker
Design Team: Charlene Andreas, Ruth Berktold, Anya Bokov, Charles Brainerd, Lori Brown, Elina Cardet, Minsuk Cho, M. Gregory Clawson, Maria Cruz, Carlos Espinoza, John Fernandez, Marius Gailin, Leila Gilchrist, Hau Hsu, Jason Johnson, Francelle Lim, Kate Mann, J. Massey, Craig Mutter, Joseph Puma, Dori Raskin, Michael Regan, Marco Salcedo, Kathleen Smith, Dorota Szwem, Mark Thaler, William Truitt, Don Weinreich, Lawrence Zeroth
Structural: Weidlinger Associates, Inc.
Landscape: Gustafson Guthrie Nichol, Judith Heintz Landscape Architecture, WERK | Charles Anderson Landscape Architecture, ads ENGINEERS
Exhibit: Ralph Appelbaum Associates, Inc.
Lighting: Fisher Marantz Stone
Acoustics: Shen Milsom & Wilke
Curtainwall: Heitmann & Associates, Inc., Heintges & Associates
Type: Cultural Center
