Perot Museum of Nature and Science

Inspiring minds through nature and science

Formed by the merger of three museums, the 5-storey 180,000 square foot Morphosis-designed building will serve as the new home for the Perot Museum of Nature and Science. The new museum will provide expansive space for exhibitions and educational activities, including an outdoor area, auditorium and visitor amenities.

Using instrumental Building Information Modelling (BIM) technology, Buro Happold created a comprehensive BIM model to simulate engineering elements within the architectural design allowing for efficient design integration, accurate cost analysis and clash detection to further coordinate the design prior to construction.

A comprehensive water recycling strategy was incorporated into the building design, allowing storm water run-off from the site and condensate from mechanical equipment to be diverted into two cisterns, which in turn treat water to varying levels and degrees depending on the use and nature. These cisterns are interlocked to allow intelligent water sharing, facilitating the use and re-distribution of water throughout the site. A building dash port using BMS trending and metering data is used to educate visitors on the various uses of the recycled water; while visually, using two distinctive water features, visitors will be able to see the movement of storm water from the building to the cisterns. This recycling strategy met 100% of the buildings irrigation needs and generated 70% potable water savings for sewage conveyance.

Upon completion, the Perot Museum of Nature and Science will achieve LEED Gold certification and fulfil the museum’s mission to “inspire minds through nature and science”.

• Merger of three museums
• BIM model used to simulte engineering elements
• Expected to achieve LEED Gold upon completion
• Water recycling strategy meets 100% of the buildings irrigation needs