Panama's Biomuseo (Museum of Biodiversity) will host its grand opening on October 2, 2014, Forbes reports.
The new museum is teeming with architect Frank Gehry's signature style of free flowing shapes, but departs from the metallic and curvy look of a classic Gehry building.
The museum is a $100 million project affiliated with the Smithsonian, the result of a collaboration between the non-profit Amador Foundation, which was established by citizens of Panama to raise awareness of the country's natural and cultural history.
The site for the project, which has views of the Bay of Panama to the north and the Panama Canal to the south, was provided by the government of Panama.
Gehry drew inspiration from the site's natural and cultural surroundings: vibrantly colored canopies reflect local Panamanian tin roofs, as well as a six-acre outdoor biodiversity park that acts as an open-air extension of the museum itself.
Gehry told Forbes: “This has been a very personal project for me. I feel close ties to the people of Panama, and I believe strongly that we should all be trying to conserve biodiversity, which is threatened everywhere.”
Forbes has the full story.
All images courtesy Biomuseo. Photos: ©Fernando Alda
Related Stories
| Nov 16, 2011
Project completion of BRAC 132, Office of the Chief Army Reserve Building, Ft. Belvoir, Va.
This fast-tracked, design-build project consists of a three-story, 88,470 sf administrative command building housing approximately 430 employees.
| Nov 16, 2011
Architecture Billings Index moves upward
The Architecture Billings Index climbed nearly three points in October.
| Nov 16, 2011
CRSI recommends return to inch-pound markings
The intention of this resolution is for all new rollings of reinforcing steel products to be marked with inch-pound bar markings no later than January 1st, 2014.
| Nov 16, 2011
John Patelski joins Ghafari as executive vice president
As executive vice president, Patelski will be responsible for expanding the firm’s services in new strategic markets.
| Nov 15, 2011
Struggling economy demands construction industry embrace enterprise-wide risk management
In today’s business environment of high supply and limited demand, it has become especially vital for organizations in the construction sector to effectively manage risk.
| Nov 15, 2011
Suffolk Construction breaks ground on the Victor housing development in Boston
Project team to manage construction of $92 million, 377,000 square-foot residential tower.
| Nov 15, 2011
Miller joins Perkins Eastman as regional manager, Middle East and Northern Africa
Miller joins Perkins Eastman with more than 48 years of experience in architecture, design management, and construction administration for planning and infrastructure.
| Nov 14, 2011
Summit Design+Build selected at GC for new Office Concepts headquarters
The new headquarters will include 17,000 sf of office space and 15,000 sf of warehouse and feature 24 ft ceilings, an open floor plan, two conference rooms and one training room and will feature sustainable finishes throughout.
| Nov 14, 2011
Griffin Electric completes electrical work at Cary Arts Center
The Griffin Electric team was responsible for replacing the previous electrical service on-site with a 1000A, 480/277V service and providing electrical feeds for a new fire pump chiller, six air-handlers and two elevators.