Designers: Mark Simon, FAIA, Team Leader, Mark Simon, Sheryl Milardo, Andrew Santaniello, David O’Connor, Justin Hedde, David Petersen, Erik Lubeck, and Rob Diaz for Centerbrook Architects & Planners, LLP in Collaboration with Sandra Matheny, Erin Spadavecchia, Scott Kasper, Joseph Martone and Scott Sather, ASSA ABLOY, Centerbrook, Connecticut, USAManufacturer: ASSA ABLOY, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
Designed by Charles Z. Kaulder in 1917, the Peabody Museum of Natural History is a three-story, French Gothic brick and dark brown sandstone building on Yale University’s campus. One of the oldest, most important scientific institutions in the nation, the Peabody is Yale’s primary conduit for sharing scientific knowledge with more than 130,000 visitors, annually. Based on more than 10 years of Master Planning, Centerbrook Architects & Planners designed comprehensive renovations and additions – the first since the Peabody opened in 1925 – that will transform the institution and support scientific advancement into the next century.
Construction started in 2020 for 172,355 SF of improvements that include a 57,631 SF, four-story infill addition between the Museum and the Environmental Science Center. Inside the Museum, large fossils will be remounted in dynamic poses, and anthropological exhibits will increase with a new floor of galleries. On the lower floor, collections will be improved with state-of-the-art climactic control, research/restoration labs, and secure storage systems. New classrooms and labs will support the institution’s mission to engage students. Seeking inspiration from the particular rather than the universal, Centerbrook uses specific details of program, site, surroundings, and cultural history in order to deliver a compelling sense of place. Such is the case with the custom door hardware design collaboration between Centerbrook and ASSA ABLOY, led by Mark Simon, FAIA, principal, Centerbrook.
“Osteo-Architecture” may best describe the inspiration that informed the designs for the coordinating Door Lever, Rosette and Door Pull that will trim the Museum’s door openings. Organic in form, reflective of the collections housed in the Museum, the Door Levers are cast in brass, weighty, and have a sculptural quality that conforms perfectly to the palm of the hand. On the Lever handle, a subtle “thumbprint” detail – repeated on the shank on the Lever – enhances engagement with the grip. The Lever will be used to trim Sargent Manufacturing mechanical locking, access control and exit devices throughout the Museum.
The Door Pull, manufactured by Rockwood in stainless steel and cast brass, and designed to complement the Door Lever, has an elliptical grip presented to the user at a slight offset/angle. The cast ends of the Pull incorporate the “thumbprint” detail on the Lever handle, enhancing the consistency of the door hardware throughout the space. All the door hardware will have a custom dark bronze finish, specified by Centerbrook to match aluminum storefront and interior framing systems.
