1st Place

California Academy of Sciences Exhibits

Volume Inc.

Sustainable Organization

Project goal:

The project consists of approximately 20,000 square feet of exhibits on the main floor of the new Renzo Piano-designed California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco, California. The principal exhibits are two galleries found at the east and west ends of the main hall. The east exhibit gallery, Islands of Evolution, examines the Academy’s various expeditions and research in the Galapagos Islands and Madagascar with a focus on evolution. The west gallery, Altered State: Climate Change in California, examines climate change globally, in the state of California and locally. The exhibit looks at rising and acidifying oceans, melting ice, hotter and drier environments, and extinction to illustrate what we stand to lose. Visitors can learn about efforts to help mitigate the effects of climate change and also make individual pledges to alter their own impact on the planet.

Project result:

Renzo Piano’s vision was that the exhibits be integrated with the building architecture, which itself was envisioned as a natural, integral part of its Golden Gate Park setting. There are large open volumes for these exhibits at both ends of the building. Each of the end walls is glazed from floor to ceiling, allowing visitors spectacular views of the natural environment outside and natural light inside. The exhibits were designed to reinforce this idea of transparency visitors can catch views of others (as well as theoutdoors) through gaps in the exhibit walls.

Taking inspiration from the scientific specimen drawer, we developed a flexible tiered system of organization to house all possible forms of information including photography, copy, illustration, video, and specimens. Unlike typical interpretive exhibits that are simplified to the point of providing very little information, our system provides multiple layers of information that can be digested based on interest level. There is content for the 2 second, 2 minute, or 2 hour visit, rather than solely catering to the non-reader lowest common denominator solution. This versatility provides a more engaging way to stratify the exhibit content that mirrors how we (often non-linearly) process information in contemporary times, whether through websites, magazines, or illustrated books.

Along with Cinnabar and Renzo Piano Building Workshop, a kit of parts was developed for the exhibit modules to allow for flexibility and transparency. This system of sustainable materials is easily reconfigurable and completely self-sufficient with its own electrical, lighting, AV and climate control. The combination of large-scale lyrical imagery printed directly on FSC certified plywood, low-energy LED lightboxes, printed photographic imagery, video content, interactive displays, and actual specimens, creates a dynamic experience that cultivates viewer interest while avoiding monotony.