California Academy of Sciences

A polycarbonate retractable roof nestled among the rolling hills allows light into the piazza below while protecting the space from rain and cold. In favorable weather conditions, the retractable roof provides a 42 by 30-foot opening, turning the piazza into an outdoor area.

The new weather-tight panels, which replaced an existing fabric shade, allow the academy to offer programs and house exhibits in the piazza atrium, making it a more usable space that fits better with with the green building design aesthetic.

The roof has two polycarbonate panels that slide along the eight supporting arches and meet in the middle when closed. The panels are driven approximately 6 feet per minute by four 1-hp belt drives, moving between the open and closed positions in approximately 2 minutes, 45 seconds. The fully automatic roof operating system is linked into the building-wide control system with an iPad interface.