Carbon net-zero dinosaur museum opens in New Jersey
The Jean & Ric Edelman Fossil Park & Museum of Rowan University, a carbon net-zero property, recently opened in Mantua Township, N.J. Situated within a 65-acre active fossil park, the 44,000 sf museum is one of the largest public net zero carbon emissions buildings in New Jersey. It features an integrated design with immersive exhibits housed within a highly sustainable building.
The museum is surrounded by a network of nature trails that circumscribe a four-acre former marl quarry where 66-million-year-old marine and terrestrial fossils lie. Visitors have the opportunity to dig for fossils alongside researchers.
Nestled into the natural setting on a ridge between a lake and the quarry overlook, the building’s wooden clad pavilions are individually shaped around apertures that connect the interior experience to the evidence that lies within the site. The architecture is a metaphorical ‘camera obscura’ linking inside and outside, with a promontory and covered porch orienting visitors to the adjacent quarry.
The museum experience includes an array of engaging attractions such as full-scale reconstructions of extinct creatures, hands-on learning experiences, live animal attractions, a collections and conservation facility, a virtual reality chamber that transports visitors back to the era of the dinosaurs, a 138-seat theater and event space, and community gathering spaces with connections to the natural world. A café with an outdoor veranda overlooking the quarry offers a peaceful spot for reflection on the natural history and ancient past showcased within the museum.
The high-performance building was designed to meet the Energy Petal Certification of the Living Building Challenge, and is carbon net-zero. The building’s massing and orientation rely on passive strategies for efficient performance and are designed to maximize visitors’ experiential connection to the site while minimizing heating and cooling loads.
The commitment to on-site energy production informs the all-electric mechanical systems within the building as well as the design for the site. A geothermal system with on-site wells and a ground-source heat pump provides heating and cooling.
Architects Ennead and KSS incorporated wood structure and cladding, using glulam columns and beams, glue-laminated timber roof decking, as well as wood siding to maximize the use of renewable materials and assist with carbon sequestration. Special attention was paid to wildlife and natural ecology through the use of bird-friendly glass and a landscape design that revives plants, which create habitats for animals to thrive in the local environment. The planting strategy also preserves the traces of history with species that span time— prehistoric to current day.
Designed to inspire action, the museum encourages guests to become stewards of the planet for future generations. Interactive kiosks throughout the museum prompt visitors with pressing climate and biodiversity issues, leaving them with a sense of purpose and responsibility.
In addition to participating in digs and traversing the walking trails, visitors can also enjoy a dinosaur-themed playground, complete with a giant Pteranodon climbing structure. Ennead worked closely with landscape architects SEED Design, intentionally designing the nature park to create a cohesive journey from start to finish, linking indoor and outdoor experiences and unifying the park's elements.
On the project team:
Owner: Rowan University, Gloucester County Improvement Authority
Design Architect: Ennead Architects
Architect of Record: KSS Architects
MEP Engineer: BuroHappold
Structural Engineer: BuroHappold
General Contractor/Construction Manager: Joseph Jingoli & Sons
