The Perot Museum of Nature and Scie

The Perot Museum of Nature and Science is located in Dallas, Texas, in the USA. 1) It was designed by architect Thom Mayne who is well known for adding unusual features to 2) his designs. He wanted to design a museum building that became part of the visitors’ learning experience, so he combined architecture with science, nature, and technology.
The building is 170 metres tall and has five floors. 3) It is a simple cube shape made from concrete and glass and surrounded by landscaped gardens. A 54 foot long escalator runs along a 150 foot glass tube on the outside of the building. The museum’s modern, man-made appearance contrasts with its natural landscaped gardens. 4) These are designed to symbolize the natural environments of Texas: forest, and desert. In the centre of the forest area is a plaza with a café and a water feature. The desert landscape includes native grasses and rocks. 5) These represent the flora (plant life) and geology of the region.
Inside the building, natural light enters through the glass atrium in the roof. Visitors move around the museum space using stairs, escalators and lifts. 6) They can enjoy panoramic views over the city from the glass viewing platform at the top of the building. The building is environmentally friendly because 7) it is made from recycled and local materials. The rooms are lit by natural light from windows, and low-energy LED lights. The water is heated by solar panels, and rainwater is collected from the roof. The museum opened in December 2012 and attracted over one million visitors in the first seven months.