CLEVELAND--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Cleveland Museum of Natural History, in partnership with DLR Group, has achieved the highest honor in sustainable building design, becoming the first museum in the United States to earn LEEDv4 BD+C NC Platinum certification. A prestigious status designated by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), LEED, or Leadership for Energy and Environmental Design, is “the international standard for the design, construction and operation of high-performance structures”1 and LEED Platinum certification represents the pinnacle of energy-efficient building standards.
“As a leading cultural institution and a champion of a better future for both humans and the planet, the Museum’s new architecture reflects its mission,” said Sonia Winner, Museum President & CEO. “Through our partnership with DLR Group, our transformation aligns the exterior of our building with the exhibits within. It is architecture in service of our natural world."
“With LEED Platinum certification, the Museum sets a new standard for natural history museums,” said DLR Group Principal and Global Architecture Leader Joshua Haney. “Using the past to inform our present to build a better future combined with a collaborative strategy, we produced a beautiful, energy-efficient building that elevates the human experience through design.”
TRANSFORMATION
The Cleveland Museum of Natural History’s $150 million transformation project is an unprecedented reinvention that aligns the Museum’s architecture with its mission of instilling a passion for nature and science in all learners. The project reimagines an existing 217,250 SF facility, located prominently within Cleveland’s cultural district, to more than 375,000 SF with more than 2 acres of outdoor visitor areas. The project includes a new Visitor Hall, lobby, and exhibit wing with completely new exhibits that break away from traditional museum compartmentalization by time period and scientific discipline. Instead, the Museum’s reconceptualized exhibits present an integrated storyline of planetary and biological processes that make these powerful forces tangible and relevant to contemporary life.
PATHWAYS TO LEED PLATINUM CERTIFICATION
Working together and with consultant partners for landscape and civil design, DLR Group employed several passive and active sustainable design strategies to achieve LEED Platinum certification.
Visible Sustainability
The Museum’s mission for the transformation project is to educate the community on how humans are connected to and impact the natural environment. In response, DLR Group designed a sustainability feature to be on display and spark curiosity for visitors by activating the primary façade of the new wing. During rain events, stormwater runoff is reduced by capturing rainfall from the roof via a gutter that daylights storm water through the GFRC cladding onto the alvar stone outcropping below. A rain garden with native plants reduces stormwater runoff by absorbing rainfall from the roof.
Key Sustainable Highlights:
- Water Management: In addition to the visible stormwater runoff, plumbing fixtures reduce indoor potable water use by 37%.
- Restoration and Wildlife Protection: Restoring over 50% of the site with native vegetation and trees reduced outdoor potable water use by 60%, mitigated heat island effects, and supported pollinators and birds. Bird-friendly glass and minimized light pollution protect wildlife.
- Energy Efficiency: A mix of passive strategies (low-e glazing, R-30 roof insulation, shading) and active systems (HVAC plant with efficient heat recovery chiller, solar photovoltaic arrays) reduced energy use by 32% compared to ASHRAE 90.1-2010 standards. Post-occupancy monitoring is in place to optimize performance.
- Carbon Reduction: A Building Life-Cycle Impact Reduction study showed a greater than 10% reduction in embodied carbon for the new spaces.
- Sustainable Materials: The project diverted over 75% of construction waste from landfills, and interior designers prioritized materials with environmental product declarations (EPDs) and verified sourcing.
- Indoor Environmental Quality: Low-VOC materials, optimized acoustics, and daylight access for 95% of occupied spaces enhance comfort and health.
The Museum’s transformation began in early 2020, completing work on the building in spring 2024. The Museum’s official Grand Opening celebration will take place from December 13 through December 15, 2024.
1https://www.usgbc.org/leed/v4
About the Cleveland Museum of Natural History
The Cleveland Museum of Natural History illuminates the world around us and inspires visitors to engage with the natural forces that shape their lives. Since its founding in 1920, the Museum has pioneered scientific research to advance knowledge across diverse fields of study and used its outstanding collections, which encompass millions of artifacts and specimens, to deepen the public’s understanding of the dynamic connections between humans and nature. Through its Natural Areas Program, the Museum stewards more than 12,500 acres of protected ecosystems across northern Ohio. A community gathering place, educational center, and research institution, the Museum is a vital resource that serves Cleveland and the nation. For more information, visit CMNH.org.
About DLR Group
DLR Group is an integrated design firm delivering architecture, engineering, interiors, planning, and building optimization for new construction, renovation, and adaptive reuse. Our promise is to elevate the human experience through design. This promise inspires sustainable design for a diverse group of public and private sector clients; local communities; and our planet. DLR Group is 100 percent employee-owned and fully supports the initiatives and goals of the 2030 Challenge and is an initial signatory to the China Accord and the AIA 2030 Commitment.
