Regional Spotlight Piano Pavilion at the Kimbell Art Museum
innovation and masterpieces blend in harmony
The Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth brings architecture and
sustainable innovation to house masterpieces by Michelangelo,
Caravaggio, Rembrandt and Bernini in a new pavilion designed by
renowned architect Renzo Piano. Surrounded by elms and red
oaks, Piano’s 101,130-square-foot colonnaded pavilion uses only
half the energy per square foot as the Kahn Building. Much of the
Piano Pavilion is below ground level; only a third is above ground
and requires full cooling and heating power. A system of
photovoltaic panels shade direct sun and generate enough power
to offset up to 20 percent of the carbon produced by the building’s
annual operations. In addition, 450-foot-deep geothermal wells – 36
in all – help to air condition the building by taking advantage of the
natural heating and cooling provided by the earth.
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