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Bus shelter modeled after 2.5 acre "living roof" on the new California Academy of Sciences building
09/04/08 - Today, in commemoration of the completion of the new California Academy of Sciences Building, Mayor Newsom cut the ribbon at the new "living roof" bus shelter at the Civic Center.
The California Academy of Sciences, working with the SFMTA, the Department of Public Works, Clear Channel Outdoor and the advertising agency, Heat, renovated the bus shelter on Larkin St. and McAllister (Civic Center) with a "living roof." This "living roof" is modeled after the 2.5 acre "living roof" on the California Academy of Sciences, and it is landscaped with a combination of beach strawberries and prunella, which are also planted on the roof of the Academy.
In addition to the "living roof" bus shelter at the Civic Center, twelve bus shelters in various neighborhoods will be wrapped with colorful images from the new museum.
"The Academy has found an inventive way to bring science to life all over the city, and encourage visitors to use public transportation when coming out to experience the museum," said Mayor Newsom. "You’ll see a rainforest in the Marina, deep space in the Mission and a coral reef right here at Civic Center."
The "living roof" is more than a great way to raise public consciousness about environment. It is a new link in an ecological corridor for wildlife. The Academy’s roof features 1.7 million California native plants, and will be planted with nine native California species that do not require artificial irrigation.
Ecological benefits of the California Academy of Sciences "living roof" include maintaining an average temperature 40 degrees cooler than a standard roof. This allows absorption of up to 2 million gallons of water per year (about 98% of all storm water), prevents runoff carrying pollutants into the ecosystem, and provides excellent insulation that keeps interior temperatures about 10 degrees cooler than a standard roof, and also reduces low frequency noise by 40 decibels.
The California Academy of Sciences will hold an opening ceremony for the general public at 8:30 am on Saturday, September 27th .
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