In early August, the San Diego Natural History Museum will begin a major construction project to—quite literally—raise the roof. The Nat plans to remove the current Atrium roof and replace it with a new design that is more sustainable, offers better climate control, and allows for the addition of solar panels.
The skylight structure that tops the Atrium is more than 25 years old and, while beautiful, is at the end of its useful lifespan (in fact, a panel failure caused significant water damage last year during a rainstorm). The new, solid design will offer many benefits:
The solid roof allows for the installation of 200 solar panels, which will result in reduced energy use with an estimated cost savings of $200,000 per year.
Better climate control and improved collections care. The old skylights created a greenhouse effect, resulting in huge temperature swings that needed to be mitigated with extra heating, cooling, and humidity control measures. The new, solid roof will allow for better temperature control—a critical element in the preservation of scientific collections.
Longevity and maintenance. The old skylight system had a useful life of 25 to 30 years, as did new skylight options that were considered. The soon-to-be installed flat roof has a lifespan of close to 100 years and will be easier to maintain.
Better protection against climate-fueled disasters. The mostly steel structure will be much more resilient against unprecedented rainstorms, flooding, and urban wildfires than the current system made of plastic panels.
“We are not only stewards of the natural world, but of the building itself,” said Judy Gradwohl, the Christy Walton President and CEO. “We welcome nearly 400,000 people each year and maintain a research collection of 9 million specimens that tell the story of life in our region. This significant investment in our infrastructure will safeguard our collection and improve the museum experience for visitors, schoolchildren, volunteers, and staff.”
The section being replaced sits directly over the Atrium and represents about 30% of the overall rooftop area. Surrounding areas, such as the rooftop event space and sections containing HVAC equipment, will not be affected. Construction will happen in several phases, each with different impacts on museum access and parking.
August to mid-September: As construction crews install scaffolding and set the stage for the heavy work, most of the Museum will be open except for the 4th floor exhibitions, Action from the Archives and Expedition Baja. The rooftop deck will remain accessible for special events until the last Nat at Night on August 22.
Mid-September to early November: During this period of heavy construction while the Atrium roof is removed and reconstructed, the east parking lot will be closed to allow for cranes and staging. For safety purposes, galleries and amenities that are in or adjacent to the Atrium will be closed, including the theater and store. There will be discounted admission during this time.
Early November through early 2026: Most galleries and the Atrium will reopen in early November. The 4th floor will reopen with new/updated exhibitions in spring 2026.
Once construction begins, Park visitors are encouraged to check the Visit page of the website, which will be updated regularly to communicate what is accessible during construction.
Although this is a city-owned building, the city is unable to contribute to the $7.5 million cost of the project. The roof replacement is being made possible with funding from the State of California and private philanthropy through the Museum’s capital campaign.
Museum guests will have a chance to metaphorically "raise the roof" on August 15 during our second-to-last Nat at Night. From 8-10 PM, guests can party under the skylights at a Y2K-themed dance party in homage to the year the original roof was installed.
Posted by The Nat on July 25, 2025
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