Kimbell Art Museum's New Renzo Piano Pavilion Construction Time-lapse, February 2013

This spring, the green spaces and sustainable features of the new building construction site are emerging, including the placement of a sophisticated, layered roof-structure, the installation of geothermal wells, and the planting of trees and grass.
One of architect Renzo Piano's most elaborately engineered roofs is currently being installed. To emulate the silvery, filtered light of the Kahn building, the floating roof will diffuse daylight through three layers of material. The top layer, comprised of a system of aluminum louvers, will block direct rays of the sun while allowing softer, reflected light through. The louvers will also capture energy with embedded photovoltaic (solar) cells. Below, the high-efficiency glass roof will further diffuse the light, and below the roof, between wooden beams, a silk-like scrim will allow an even more nuanced spectrum of daylight to pass through. In the evening, the space above the scrim will be subtly illuminated by artificial light. Upon completion of the roof in May, the galleries and lobby will glow under its soft light, which can be sensitively adjusted to meet the needs of the art displayed below.
In January, geothermal wells were dug on the southwest corner of the site. The 450-foot-deep wells-36 in all-will help to air condition the building by taking advantage of the natural heating and cooling provided by the earth. After the wells were fully installed, a specifically designed soil was laid over the site. The lightweight composition of the soil is perfect for covering the Museum's underground parking structure while allowing for optimal growth of the large trees specified in the landscaping plan.
Some 320 new trees will be planted around the site, including 47 of the 30-foot-high elms that will visually connect the Piano and Kahn buildings. The elms will re-establish the pattern of trees that, prior to construction, had been in place since before the Kahn building opened in 1972. In addition, 52 new yaupon holly trees, each measuring 12--15 feet tall, are being planted in the grove outside the Kahn building's west entrance. As it has for decades, the shade of the yaupons will provide a transition from the light of day to the magical light of Kahn's interior.
In the coming weeks, a blanket of new green grass will emerge from the soil. By the end of April, the landscaping will be complete, and by May, the new building is expected to be totally enclosed and climatized.
The pavilion's architectural concrete is nearly complete and is anything but typical. Its cool, alabaster-like sheen and silky texture are the result of a complicated fabrication process performed by the Beck Group, Capform, and a team of Italian and American consultants. Each wall's custom-built form is made of the smoothest wood and laminate material, as well as an elaborate web of reinforced steel rebar that is carefully constructed and treated in preparation for the concrete mix. The specifically developed concrete recipe is mixed, poured into the forms with scientific precision, and then perfectly vibrated to create the desired quality. Careful adjustments are required to accommodate changes in temperature, humidity, time of day, and location.
The concrete walls of the stairwells, one leading to the Museum's main entrance and another to the auditorium entrance, are sure to be visitor favorites. While the majority of the building's walls are placed at traditional 90-degree angles from the floor and ceiling, the two dramatic stairwell walls slant upward at an elegant nine degrees from vertical. This unorthodox position increases the fill of natural light in the space and provides an unexpected climb or descent for the visitor. The same concept is being applied to the angled wall of the light well that will span the west side of the pavilion; it will be clearly visible from the building's 294-seat auditorium.
Among the building's most identifiable features are the 29 enormous pairs of wooden beams that will support the elaborate glass roof system. Each 100-foot long pair of beams weighs an astonishing 15 tons (30,000 pounds). They will run north--south at regular intervals, parallel to the building's east wall, and will eventually span the entire lobby and east-facing gallery spaces. Many of the beam pairs have already been installed.
Concrete pours and beam installation will continue through the end of the year, providing onlookers with a clearer vision of what the building will ultimately become. The new pavilion is expected to open in late 2013. Check back for ongoing construction updates.

[@BeckGroupVideo]

Great video of the progress! Can't wait to see a start to finish time-lapse of our work!

[@SergioGonzalez-ex7th]

i was there ....helped on forming the walls on southwest gallery

[@apwXdesigns]

Concrete is not sustainable, and they removed the green space and all of trees....