The new Bell Museum (of Natural History) is located as a strategic gateway to the Saint Paul Campus of the University of Minnesota and showcases the University’s reputation for innovative research, education, and public engagement. Program components include Permanent & Temporary Exhibit Spaces, Digital Theater, Café, Gift Shop, Event Lobby, Offices, Curatorial Workrooms, Science Classrooms, and interactive ‘discovery rooms’.

The Perkins+Will design team created a personal journey of discovery through time, space and life – told through the lenses of art, science, and culture. Inspired by the innate storytelling power of Francis Lee Jacques’ historic Minnesota dioramas, the building itself was conceived as an interactive diorama. Three monumental glass and wood story boxes become new ‘lenses’ between the interior and exterior spaces inspiring every visitor to connect across time between environmental experiences that are only in the past (within the museum) and environmental experiences that are immediately present (outside the building), informing our collective future. The interior and exterior materials tell unique Minnesota environmental stories through the use of thermally modified White Pine for the exhibit hall and story boxes. Minnesota’s iron ore history is represented by weathering steel, stainless steel and galvanized steel.

Sustainability goals are focused on biodiversity, climate change, water, and the interplay of natural/engineered systems. The project will exceed the State of Minnesota’s B3 Sustainability requirements through extensive use of native and adapted landscaping; a 70% reduction in carbon emissions, 40% reduction in building water use, 50% reduction in irrigation water use, and low emitting interior materials.

Make sure to look out and use #iidaNLforums when taking any photography or posting to social media! We love to see all of the creative pictures from the event!

All Photography shown is by Pete Sieger.