Project Summary

Noted physicist Dr. Frank Oppenheimer opened the doors of the Palace of Fine Arts (PFA) on the Marina in San Francisco more than 40 years ago.  With his colleagues, supporters and fans, he created the Exploratorium in the PFA, a new kind of public space, one that enhanced learning by engaging visitors in interacting with phenomena via “hands-on exhibits”.  Soon the Exploratorium became a center for science learning outside of school, offering informal educational experiences that would complement school learning.

In 2006, the incredible site on the Embarcadero at Piers 15 & 17 was discovered. A partnership with the Port of San Francisco was established to pursue the opportunity. It would take four years to finally break ground in November of 2010 for the new bayside home of the Exploratorium, which opened in April 2013.  The project scope of work created a new campus that will place the institution at the heart of the waterfront, at the gateway to the City and the nexus of public transit. With room inside and out, the new site, which is a total of 422,166 sq, ft,, doubles the Exploratorium’s current site. The refurbished historic shed, new Observatory building, and new outdoor spaces will house the entire museum, with 230,000 square-feet dedicated to exhibitions, public programs, classrooms, a national center for teacher development, R&D for innovative ways to teach and learn, exhibit fabrication, a restaurant and cafe, museum stores, event space, and room for visiting professionals and staff. Pier 17 will include a new apron for public access around the pier and a national center for teacher development.

The project is LEED^® Platinum and will be working towards becoming the largest net-zero energy museum in the world. Some sustainable building features include:

• Bay water heating and cooling
• Radiant floors throughout
• Roof water runoff returning to the bay; 16% of the roof runoff will be reused for toilet flushing
• Energy-star roof with additional thermal insulation
• 1.4 megawatts of solar panels
• No copper flashing or gutters that might harm the shellfish
• Waterless urinals
• Daylight galleries
• Low-emitting materials with recycled content and certified wood

AWARDS:

2016 AIA National Committee on the Environment Top 10 Green Projects

2013 Engineering News Record Best Green Project in Northern California

2013 AIA National Committee on the Environment Top 10 Green Projects

2013 AIA S.F. Design Awards, Special Commondation

2012 Engineering News Record Best Photos

2012 San Francisco Business Times Real Estate Deals of the Year

2011 San Francisco Business Times Real Estate Deals of the Year Finalist

Exploratorium Media Portal

View Webcam Here – Pier 15
View Webcam Here – Pier 17

Small Bridge Installation Video on YouTube 

Science in the City:Underworld Video on YouTube

Exploratorium News

• ABC Channel 7 News Segment, Exploratorium Building New Space Along Waterfront
• Exploratorium, Green Architecture and Building Report
• ABC Channel 7 News Segment
• KTVU Channel 2 News Segment
• Eerie Underworld on San Francisco’s Waterfront
• Exploratorium in S.F. Beginning Work on New Home
• Exploratorium’s New Bayside Home

“Refurbishing and seismically upgrading a historic pier that spans the length of almost three football fields over the water is a major construction and engineering feat. Nibbi Brothers has been with us every step of the way and have been excellent partners. They have been working with us on a very difficult and expansive site, paying attention to major initiatives and minor details, as well as to our institutional needs. They are personally wonderful people to boot, and are as enthusiastic about our project as we are!”

Dennis Bartels, Executive Director
The Exploratorium