Christopher A. Pastor
As global warming and rising sea levels march forward at an increasing pace, humankind and society have no further option but to confront these changes head-on in how we live our lives, protect our cities and plan future development. From inception, the Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) has had this forward-thinking architecture of adaptation at the core of its design. The state-of-the-art facility was designed by the Swiss architectural team Herzog & de Meuron and opened to wide critical acclaim in December of 2013.
PAMM’s innovative design uses cutting-edge technology from around the world to deliver the most adaptable structure for its site and location. The museum was the first in the United States to use Cobiax slab technology, a building system that incorporates 100% recycled plastic with rebar in the concrete slabs used for the main structure. This technique not only lightens the weight of the concrete which allows for larger unobstructed gallery spaces, but also efficiently reduces the amount of concrete used by 35%. The lighter load of the concrete was important because the entire museum is lifted 20 feet above sea level on concrete stilts, which places the structure, storage, and all engineering equipment on a safe flood plain in the event of a hurricane and also takes advantage of optimum breeze patterns off of Biscayne Bay which aids in the cooling of the structure.
Due to South Florida’s tropical climate and the projections of an increase in temperatures in the coming decades, sustainable cooling was a major consideration in the museum’s design. The temperature is controlled by a Plenum system that recirculates air through ducts in the building’s concrete floors, rather than the ceilings, saving energy and improving efficiency. The overhanging canopy of wooden slats shades the museum and the public outdoor spaces from direct sunlight and together with the signature hanging gardens work to reduce temperatures in the museum’s outdoor and indoor spaces by 10 degrees year-round.
Designed by artist and botanist Patrick Blanc using his advanced horticultural techniques, native tropical plants hang from the canopy between the structural columns and platforms. The project team also worked closely with landscape architects Arquitectonica Geo to select a range of plant life that could withstand exposure to sun and wind as well as the city’s storm season. All of the landscaping and the hanging gardens are watered by a rain cistern system greatly reducing the amount of fresh water the museum uses in ongoing maintenance of the gardens.
Herzog & de Meuron focused on using recycled and local materials throughout the museum as a way to minimize the carbon foot print of construction as much as possible. The steel, wood and gypsum used for the structure was all extracted from sustainable sites within the state of Florida. Eighty-seven percent of the steel used was recycled, as was a substantial portion of the non-load-bearing concrete. All seating throughout the museum was made using sustainable cork, floor coverings are made out of Bolon, a recycled flooring alternative, and curtains were made of recycled fibers and plastics were all used.
With this in mind, it is easy to see how PAMM was built to not only serve the needs of the existing community and in direct response to its current location, but was designed and built with the foresight to be able to share some of the best examples of 20th and 21st century art with future generations of citizens in Miami-Dade County, whether they arrive by land or by sea.
Christopher A. Pastor is the Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations at Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM), and a native resident of South Florida. Mr. Pastor has seen the effects of climate change on his community since relocating from New York in 2014 after 7 years with American Friends of the Louvre, and is a leader in climate change awareness among the arts community. Mr. Pastor holds a B.A. in Art History from Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, NY.