On-line architecture magazine dezeen has done it again with a great article and more amazing photos of wood in action.
The Jean and Ric Edelman Fossil Park Museum at Rowan University in Mantua Township, New Jersey, is a 44,000-square-foot facility designed by Ennead Architects in collaboration with KSS Architects. The museum’s construction prominently features sustainable wood elements, including a hybrid mass timber structure composed of glulam (glue-laminated timber) columns and beams, along with cross-laminated timber (CLT) roof decking. The exterior is clad in wood, emphasizing the use of renewable materials and harmonizing with the surrounding landscape.
This design choice not only supports environmental sustainability but also contributes to the museum’s goal of achieving net-zero emissions. The building incorporates geothermal wells for ground-source heating and cooling, and a photovoltaic solar field to supply 100% of its energy needs. These features align with the museum’s commitment to environmental stewardship and its pursuit of Zero Energy Certification under the Living Building Challenge.
“Lenses” taper inwards into one, central window, informed by “the idea that the museum is a window through deep time”, according to the team. Photo by Aislinn Weidele / Ennead
https://www.dezeen.com/2025/04/02/edelman-fossil-park-museum-new-jersey-ennead-architects/
Photography is courtesy of Jeff Goldberg/Etso unless otherwise stated.
