Rendering by Centerbrook Architects & Planners
Centerbrook, CT – Yale University has announced an addition and renovation by Centerbrook Architects & Planners to the historic Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History in New Haven.
This undertaking will be the first major work on the landmark building since it opened in 1925 and will modernize the Peabody Museum by substantially increasing exhibit space and on-site collections.
Centerbrook principal Mark Simon, FAIA, said, “Circulation of people and things throughout the complex will be more efficient, rational and intuitive. The place is very complex, with interlocking technology and structure, yet we hope to make it simple for all to understand and use. We are also greatly improving its sustainability, from energy use to wellness betterments.”
The new construction will be a four-story infill addition between the Peabody and neighboring Environmental Science Center (ESC) on Science Hill. The addition will feature a new glass entrance tower that faces the adjacent Kline Geology Laboratory (KGL) and a dramatic sky-lit four-story central gallery.
Along with Centerbrook, the project team includes Turner Construction, construction manager. ARUP, Gilsanz Murray Steficek, and Langan are providing engineering services. James Corner Field Operations is the landscape architect with Reich + Petch on board as the exhibit designers.
Renovations will create modern spaces for exhibits, study rooms, collections, and offices. The renovations will extend to both the ESC and KGL buildings, integrating the Peabody and ESC structures for efficiency and improved underground circulation.
“The new North Court and entry tower will be the Yale community entrance, offering an outdoor exhibit and celebration space,” said Simon. “We are also creating a variety of other social spaces inside-and-out to encourage interaction between visitors, staff, and the university community. These updates will underscore that the Peabody is more than a museum; it is a home of science, a treasure for the city, state, and region.”
