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Perot Museum

Location

Dallas, Texas

Size

180,000 sq. ft.

Design Architect

Morphosis

Architect of Record

GFF

Structurally Stunning...Inventive Engineering...Remarkable Solutions

The Perot Museum of Nature & Science stands apart as a breath-taking structure rising dramatically on the outer edge of Dallas' museum district. One of 6 buildings in the Dallas Arts District designed by a Pritzker Prize laureate, this building required engineering expertise of the highest caliber.

The concrete frame is a simple pan-and-joist system, stabilized with a cast-in-place concrete wall system at the building core; but, that’s where “standard construction” stops and the creativity of the engineering team begins. Many atypical techniques and structural design innovations were necessary throughout the planning and design phases--a challenge that our engineering team approached with enthusiasm.

Our structural team created physical models to study and understand the complex geometry of this building. These models helped us visualize and then create solutions to solve difficult three-dimensional challenges. 

Datum Engineers and John A. Martin & Associates are the structural engineers on the Perot Museum of Nature & Science.

With its Cartesian cube and its free-flowing, lava-like plinth, the Perot Museum … mixes Euclidean geometry with hyperbolic curves, and juxtaposes fluid and restrained spaces…The connection between natural and man-made artifact speaks of a flinty integrity that makes architecture meaningful.

ARCHITECTURAL RECORD

Awards

Michelin Green Guide Three-Star Destination 
LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council 

Best of Big D: Reader’s Choice “Best Museum” (2016 - 2013)

American Institute of Architects - National - 2016 Institute Honor Award

American Institute of Architects - Dallas Chapter - 2015 Community Honors Award

Only Green Globes® certified museum in the United States 

Trip Expert Experts' Choice Award 

Texas Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities Accessibility Award 
2014 National AIA Technology in Architectural Practice (TAP) - Jury's Choice

Stellar Architecture Using BIM Delivery Process Innovation Citation

Four Green Globes rating from the Green Building Initiative for its sustainability practices. Only 12 out of 759 Green Globes certified buildings in the U.S. have achieved four Globes.

Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute Design Award
Award of Merit - Engineering News Record