The five-story Kenneth C. Griffin Exploration Atrium is the gateway to the Richard Gilder Center for Science, Education, and Innovation. The Griffin Atrium, with architecture inspired by natural Earth processes of wind and water, features apertures, bridges, and landings that invite visitors to explore various levels and galleries. From this second-floor vantage point, visitors can take in the full scope of the Griffin Atrium and two floors of the Louis V. Gerstner, Jr. Collections Core, including the Macaulay Family Foundation Collections Galleries.

Gilder Center Blends Science and Architecture in NYC

Jan Chrisann Edward

Nearly three years after opening, the Gilder Center’s architectural showpiece continues to blend science, design and immersive storytelling.

Gallery, fish, Louis V. Gerstner, Jr. Collections Core — The Louis V. Gerstner, Jr. Collections Core, in the Macaulay Family Foundation Collections Gallery, this exhibit of cleared and stained fish is a selection of specimens from the Museum’s Ichthyology collection.

A Landmark of Modern Museum Design

The Richard Gilder Center for Science, Education, and Innovation at the American Museum of Natural History remains one of New York City’s most striking cultural additions. Since opening in May 2023, the building has attracted both science enthusiasts and design lovers.

Renowned architect Jeanne Gang designed the structure with her firm Studio Gang. Together, they created a 230,000-square-foot building that reimagines how a museum can feel. Its flowing façade of Milford pink granite and bird-safe glass blends with the historic campus. As a result, the building connects visually with the museum’s older architecture.

Inside, the five-story Kenneth C. Griffin Exploration Atrium opens into sweeping, canyon-like curves. The design draws inspiration from natural rock formations. At the same time, the dramatic space fills with natural light. Consequently, visitors immediately feel a sense of scale and discovery.

immersive, interactive — An immersive and interactive 360-degree science-and-art experience in the new Richard Gilder Center offers a breathtakingly beautiful, scientifically rigorous, and engaging view into networks of life at all scales.

Reimagining the Visitor Experience

Beyond its visual impact, the Gilder Center changes how visitors move through the museum. The building creates 33 connections between ten structures on the campus. Because of these links, guests can now travel easily from Columbus Avenue to Central Park West.

The design also encourages exploration. Bridges, openings, and staircases reveal galleries across several levels. As visitors move through the building, they encounter exhibitions in unexpected ways. In turn, the architecture itself becomes part of the experience.

American Museum of Natural History — The Gilder Center establishes 33 connections among 10 existing Museum buildings to link the entire campus. The Yurman Family Crystalline Pass, a 19-foot-long re-creation of a remarkable rock crystal vein in the Oachita Mountains of Arkansas.
Photo: Iwan Baan

Exhibitions That Bring Science to Life

Several exhibitions highlight the museum’s scientific collections. For example, the Davis Family Butterfly Vivarium allows visitors to walk among hundreds of free-flying butterflies. Nearby, Opulent Oceans celebrates the diversity of marine life.

Meanwhile, the immersive experience Invisible Worlds surrounds visitors with a 360-degree visualization of life’s hidden networks. In contrast, the exhibition What’s in a Name? takes a quieter approach. It explores the history of scientific naming through rare books and archival materials from the museum’s collections.

A Hub for Research and Discovery

In addition to exhibitions, the Gilder Center houses one of the world’s largest natural history libraries. The Reading Room offers a quiet space to browse and study. Meanwhile, the Alcove Gallery displays rare books and other special materials.

Nearly three years later, the Gilder Center remains more than a new wing. It is a powerful blend of science, architecture, and storytelling. In a city that constantly evolves, it shows that curiosity never goes out of style.