The Nature Museum is thrilled to announce the construction of the Sustainability Center, a new state-of-the-art interactive exhibit and resource center that focuses on human values and the importance of living in balance with the environment. The space will also feature rotating exhibits that highlight current practices in sustainability and ordinary people doing extraordinary things in the fight to save our environment.

The new 1,100 square foot center, set to open in early 2023, will be a permanent exhibit that leans on immersive storytelling through continually updated digital content and will feature open gathering areas where visitors can dive into the issues of sustainability and climate change. Designed for all ages to enjoy, the center will be transformed into two engaging and inviting areas; serving as both an interactive gallery and a community resource center.

The interactive gallery will feature soaring graphics, a living green wall featuring a variety of plants, and a large spherical sculpture at the center highlighting the four components of a sustainable environment: food, water, economy & culture, and energy. The community resource center will be an open-concept area that can be used as a space for working, reading, and mingling. The center will also cater to younger visitors with a space where they can read, draw, and adventure.

This $1.5 million project is funded by private donations and an Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) Capital Grant..

The conception and design of the Sustainability Center is led by Alvaro Ramos, Chief Curator, Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, and the Nature Museum exhibits team, with assistance from our design and construction partners Luci Creative and CBRE.

‍