Rose Center for Earth and Space / Polshek Partnership (Ennead Architects)

Architects: Polshek Partnership (Ennead Architects)
Location: 200 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024, United States
Design Partners: James S. Polshek FAIA, Todd H. Schliemann FAIA
Partner In Charge: Joseph L. Fleischer FAIA
Area: 379000.0 ft2
Project Year: 2000
Photographs: Jeff-Goldberg, Richard-Barnes, Aislinn-Weidele

Project Manager: Tyler H. Donaldson AIA
Senior Designer: David Wallance AIA
Project Architect: Kala Somvanshi AIA
Core Design Team: Judi Bauer, John Jordan, John Lowery, Craig McIlhenny, V. Guy Maxwell, Charmian Place, William Van Horn, Matt Viederman, Jo Walker
Design Team: Charlene Andreas, Ruth Berktold, Anya Bokov, Charles Brainerd, Lori Brown, Elina Cardet, Minsuk Cho, Greg Clawson, Maria Cruz, Carlos Espinosa, John Fernandez, Marius Gailin, Lelia Gilchrist, Hau Hsu, Jason Johnson, Francelle Lim, Kate Mann, J. Massey, Craig Mutter, Joseph Puma, Dori Raskin, Michael Regan, Marco Salcedo, Kathleen Smith, Dorota Szwem, Mark Thaler, William Truitt, Don Weinreich, Lawrence Zeroth
Structural Engineering : Weidlinger Associates, Inc.
Mep, Fire Protection: Altieri Sebor Wieber
Curtainwall: Heitmann & Associates, Inc.
Tension Structure: TriPyramid Structures, Inc.
Landscape (Terrace Design): Anderson & Ray, Kathryn Gustafson
Landscape (Park And Plaza): Judith Heintz
Water Features: Gerald Palevsky
Graphics: Pentagram Design
Lighting: Fisher Marantz Renfro Stone
Acoustics: Shen Milsom & Wilke
Theater: Auerbach + Associates
Theater Lighting: Auerbach + Glasow
Color: Donald Kaufman Color
Civil Engineering: Joseph R. Loring and Associates
Specifications: Construction Specifications Inc.
Code: Jerome S. Gillman Consulting Architect, P.C.
Life Safety: Rolf Jensen & Associates, Performance Technology Consulting, Ltd.
Security: Sako & Associates, Inc.
Traffic: Philip Habib & Associates
Computer Graphics: dbox, inc.
Parking: Edison Parking Management
Vertical Transportation: Van Deusen & Associates
Hazardous Materials: Galson Consulting
Building Preservation: Archa Technology
Historic Research: Higgins & Quasebarth
Glass Maintenance Systems: Entek Engineering, LLP

Text description provided by the architects. The iconic sphere within a glass cube of the Rose Center for Earth and Space redefines this landmark cultural institution for the twenty-first century. The technical virtuosity and extreme clarity of the curtainwall, the soaring interior space and the articulated spatial experience inspire an appreciation of the wonders of our universe and the power of scientific inquiry.

“The new Rose Center brings us face to face with something commensurate to our capacity for wonder… this is a mature modern building, a structure unafraid of revealing the deep roots from which modern architecture arose.”
– Herbert Muschamp, Architecture Critic

The building is designed as a visible expression of the science it contains. Transparency of the curtain wall demystifies and illuminates the cube’s contents, both enhancing the presence of the sphere and revealing its gravitational force to serve the institution’s goal to de-brick science.

Exhibits are integrated with the architecture and the larger sequence throughout the building to créate a seamless union of structure, form and function. A clear and flexible sequence of spaces and educational experiences begins with the building itself, whose structure, skin and systems are models of the most advanced technologies made accessible by means of both the literal and metaphoric transparency of the design.

In concert with the building, hands-on exhibits, interactive experiences, pervasive technology, media and real-time feeds facilitate learning at every level, dramatizing the study of earth and space and attracting adults and children to participate physically and intellectually in the education and exhibition programs.

The cube is a bold, striking contrast to the designated landmark complex. The building contributes to thesocial and environmental stability of its urban precinct by completing the Museum’s north side,restoring a public park and creating a new public outdoor space.