Architectural renovations take an exhausting amount of time and effort to complete. The fruit of thoughtful concept, precise realization and plain hard labor come together only in their final stages, amounting more anticipation—and pressure—for the ultimate day when ribbon and scissors meet.

In Golden Gate Park, the California Academy of Sciences still has much to finish before its reopening date on September 27, but the structure itself is nearly complete. Scientists and researchers are settling into their new offices, while the Academy’s massive archive, a research collection encompassing some 20 million objects, has just begun moving across town from it’s temporary warehouse on Howard Street, in the SOMA district of San Francisco.

Click here to view the multimedia...

“The transition is definitely underway,” said Helen Taylor, spokeswoman for the Academy. “We have a rich history here that we’re excited to build upon today, with the unique chance to reinvent ourselves for the 21st century—making science more relevant and accessible to people of all ages and backgrounds.”

Taylor says the act of reinventing this museum’s objective has been an ongoing process for ten years, but the Academy first broke ground in 2004 to start it’s reconstruction. From that onset, and considering the major environmental impact today of building a new structure, the Academy decided it would try its best to set a new standard for the greenest, most sustainable architecture.

In the past four years, renowned architect Renzo Piano has focused on a major green-building transformation for the museum—aiming to score the country's highest rating for energy efficiency and sustainable design (LEED Platinum).

Other prominent projects credited to the Genoa-based architect include an international airport in Osaka, Japan and the recent The New York Times skyscraper in Manhattan, New York.

So what are some the main factors that make the Academy of Sciences and it’s new museum so great and green?

“Well, the building’s sustainable materials and green features throughout, allow us to consume 30 to 35 percent less energy than required by code,” Taylor said. “There isn’t air conditioning in the public spaces inside, but rather, it’s cooled by a sophisticated system regulated by our weather stations on top of the green living roof.”

With many efficient purposes all it’s own, the roof absorbs rainfall during the wet season, while also working as an insulation system during hot or cold climate conditions.

Choice of materials to build the museum is also a key factor in the green design. According to Taylor, whenever possible, sustainable and recycled materials were selected in the early part of constructing the building.

“So all the building’s steel was recycled,” said Taylor. “All the concrete you see around us contains 30 percent fly ash and 20 percent slag, which is an alternative to cement that takes considerably less energy to make or import. Then, to insulate the walls even more, we used old denim jeans!”

Although not open to the public until later this fall, people can still appreciate the new image of this iconic museum (i.e. the roof). If ever in Golden Gate Park, take a trip to the de Young tower just across the courtyard. Looking down, the park looks green as can be.