CLEVELAND, OH—The Cleveland Museum of Natural History is honored to announce its selection to the 2025 World’s Most Beautiful Museums List by the prestigious Prix Versailles, a global architecture and design award program held annually at UNESCO since 2015.
A series of architectural competitions, the Prix Versailles shines a spotlight on the world’s finest contemporary projects at the intersection of multiple disciplines. Its World Jury, composed of internationally renowned figures, selects outstanding projects across categories such as airports, campuses, passenger stations, sports, and museums. Guided by principles of intelligent sustainability, the Prix Versailles celebrates innovation, creativity, respect for local heritage, ecological efficiency, and the values of social interaction and participation.
This year’s World’s Most Beautiful Museums List features only seven institutions worldwide, representing excellence in new museum architecture:
This global recognition follows the Museum’s recent $150 million transformation, unveiled to the public in December 2024. Designed by the Museum’s architectural partner, DLR Group, the reimagined Museum invites visitors to explore the wonders of science and nature in a stunning building inspired by the glaciers that shaped the Great Lakes region.
"Every aspect of our transformed Museum aims to achieve one unified vision: to promote healthy humans, a healthy planet, and a better future for all," said Sonia Winner, President & CEO of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. "We are thrilled that this commitment to architecture in the service of science has been recognized on an international stage."
The new Museum is a model of sustainable design, featuring elements such as a visible solar panel array, bird-safe glass, and an integrated stormwater-retention system. Thanks to these initiatives, the project has achieved LEED Platinum certification, the highest distinction awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council. New design features, such as expansive windows that flood spaces with natural light and a Visitor Hall that offers free access to iconic exhibits, create deeper community connections and invite public engagement with science and conservation.
“The Cleveland Museum of Natural History’s recognition as one of the world’s most beautiful museums by Prix Versailles is a testament to the power of visionary architecture and sustainable design,” said DLR Group Principal and Global Cultural+Performing Arts Leader Dan Clevenger. “This honor not only celebrates the museum’s stunning transformation, led by the design team of Mark Morris, Paul Westlake and Joshua Haney, but also reflects its commitment to advancing scientific discovery, fostering education around our natural world, and shaping a more informed and sustainable future.”
Of the seven museums selected for the 2025 World’s Most Beautiful Museums List, three will receive the further distinction of a World Title, Interior and Exterior from Prix Versailles. Awards will be announced in December 2025.
Media Contact
Samantha Guenther
External Communications Manager, Marketing & Communications
Cleveland Museum of Natural History
Office: 216.231.4600 x3432
Mobile: 440.429.2902
sguenther@cmnh.org
About the Cleveland Museum of Natural History
The Cleveland Museum of Natural History illuminates the world around us and inspires visitors to engage with the natural forces that shape their lives. Since its founding in 1920, the Museum has pioneered scientific research to advance knowledge across diverse fields of study and used its outstanding collections, which encompass millions of artifacts and specimens, to deepen the public’s understanding of the dynamic connections between humans and nature. Through its Natural Areas Program, the Museum stewards more than 12,500 acres of protected ecosystems across northern Ohio. A community gathering place, educational center, and research institution, the Museum is a vital resource that serves Cleveland and the nation. For more information, visit CMNH.org.
