Page 6 - Transformations Brochure
P. 6
The Exploratorium
San Francisco, CA
Size: 206,000 sf
Completion: April 2013
Market: Visitor Serving
The Exploratorium’s move to Pier 15
provides a prime waterfront location for
this internationally acclaimed museum of
science and perception. The complexity
of the program was matched by the
challenge of rehabilitating an existing
historic structure into the country’s
largest net zero energy museum.
Lessons Learned
1 The temperature of the Bay
fluctuates between 50°F and 66°F
seasonally, and is used as a heat
source and heat sink to efficiently
produce hot and chilled water for the
building’s radiant slab. 73,800 gallons
of bay water circulate through the
building every hour.
2 16% of the roof area captures and
stores up to 338,000 gallons of
rainwater for toilet flushing.
3 78,712 sf of rooftop solar panels
provide 1.262 megawatts of peak AC
power or 2,113,715 kWh-AC/yr.
