First After Dark Event at New Exploratorium: Home

On hiatus since 2012, the Exploratorium's After Dark returns Pier 15 with a museum-wide housewarming party.

Home will be an exploration of homes at all scales, from the Earth itself to the human microbiome, and will feature behind-the-scenes tours of our new campus and exhibits, live music, films and cocktails.

As you explore the Exploratorium's new home, join lead design architect Marc L'Italien of EHDD and lead mechanical engineer Peter Rumsey of Integral Group to discuss the process of transforming a cavernous historic pier into a vital home for the Exploratorium, and what one day may be the largest Net Zero energy museum in the world. Learn how filtered bay water heats or cools the building via radiant floors, and how natural ventilation and light, and a large solar photovoltaic system are helping the museum near its Net Zero Energy goal.

Linger in our beautiful Outdoor Gallery to hear bands play on Zac Carroll's Front Porch, an homestead-inspired mobile stage built from period materials (including parts of an old speakeasy) and pulled by a 1929 tractor named Bessie. Spin Home, a 14' illuminated globe by artist Michael Christian, and watch it scatter street map silhouettes from cities around the world.

Gather in the elegant East Gallery to meet some of the exotic creatures that call the pier pilings home, and get to know the 500 trillion or so residents of your own skin (and mouth, and gut) with Exploratorium biologist Karen Kalumuck. You can also stroll through the solar system with staff scientist Ron Hipschman, and learn what makes Earth just right for sustaining life.

After Dark is for adults 18 years and older.