California Academy of Sciences

Will future historians look back on early 21st century America as the Age of Renzo Piano? In the past five years the Italian architect has completed five major projects all across the U.S., including the superb Nasher Sculpture Center in Dallas, the huge new addition to the High Museum in Atlanta and the not-so-great New York Times headquarters in Manhattan. Next month will see the opening of his thorough reconstruction of the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco. It combines classically proportioned glass and steel with a green roof (above) that Frodo Baggins would love.

— Richard Lacayo

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