The Cleveland Museum of Natural History's new architecture puts our sustainability front and center—and recently, we shared that our sustainable features made us the first Museum in the nation to earn a LEEDv4 BD+C NC Platinum certification, the highest achievement in sustainable building design. But what does it take to make a museum sustainable?
It started with a big question: How could a building dedicated to celebrating nature do more to protect it? With its transformation project underway, the Museum decided to go all-in on sustainability. The result is a space that isn’t just about learning from the natural world—but actively working to preserve it.
Here’s the story of how the Museum got there, and what it means for the community and the planet.
A Mission That Runs Deep
For more than 100 years, the Museum has connected people to the wonders of nature, from ancient fossils to the amazing ecosystems of Ohio. But conservation is also a core part of the Museum’s mission. Through its Natural Areas Program, for example, the Museum stewards more than 12,500 acres of protected natural areas throughout Northern Ohio.
The Museum’s transformation presented an opportunity to connect its exhibits and content within with the natural world outside—simultaneously making the Museum more sustainable and aligning the building’s architecture with its mission.
What Is LEED, and Why Does It Matter?
To turn this vision into reality, the Museum set its sights on LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification. LEED is like the Olympics of sustainable building design. Projects earn points for things like saving energy, conserving water, reducing waste, and improving air quality. The more points you earn, the higher your certification level: Certified, Silver, Gold, or Platinum.
Earning Platinum is no small feat. It requires careful planning, cutting-edge solutions, and a commitment to going beyond the basics. For the Museum, it meant working with our architectural partner, DLR Group, to rethink everything from how the building uses power to the landscaping outside its doors.
Explore the infographic below to learn about the features that help to make the Museum more sustainable!
A Space for People and Planet
The Museum’s transformation isn’t just about technology or design—it’s about people and the planet we share. Many of the Museum’s eco-friendly features are also meant to inspire visitors and show what’s possible when sustainability is part of the plan.
Outside, the grounds have been transformed into a haven for Ohio’s native plants and wildlife. Parking lots were replaced with pollinator-friendly gardens full of flowers and grasses that thrive in the local climate. Not only do these plants support bees, butterflies, and other species essential to healthy ecosystems, but they’re also a reminder of the biodiversity the Museum works to protect—and a space for visitors to connect with the natural world.
If you happen to visit the Museum on a rainy day, you’ll also notice some active sustainability features on the Museum’s façade. On the front of the Larry Sears and Sally Zlotnick Sears Dynamic Earth Wing, a rainwater capture system helps to capture stormwater runoff, while a rain garden with native plants helps to absorb rainfall. These plants and other features, such as bird-friendly glass and special lighting, also help to protect local wildlife.
Even the materials used to build and transform the Museum were chosen and implemented with care. The building’s designers prioritized materials with environmental product declarations (EPDs) and verified sourcing, and made sure that more than 75% of construction waste was diverted from landfills. While these behind-the-scenes efforts might not be as noticeable to visitors, they remain critical to reducing the project’s environmental footprint.
The next time you visit the Museum, take a moment to soak it all in. The sunlight streaming through the windows, the gardens and landscapes teeming with life, the thoughtful design at every turn. It’s a space that’s as much about protecting the planet as it is about exploring it—a living example of how we can build a better future, one step at a time.
