Yale Peabody Museum Honored with AIA Connecticut Sustainability Award
Centerbrook Architects and Planners is proud to announce that the Yale Peabody Museum has received one of only two Excellence Awards in the 2025 AIA Connecticut Sustainable Architecture Awards. This marks the museum’s second major recognition for sustainable design since reopening in 2024.
The biennial awards program celebrates projects that innovatively address environmental challenges by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, conserving water and energy, and promoting health and well-being in the built environment. The Peabody’s transformation embodies these values through a comprehensive renovation that honors the museum’s historic architecture while positioning it as a model of environmental stewardship.
The award’s jurors commented that:
“A beautiful project that thoughtfully links the existing museum with the Environmental Science Center through a light-filled infill addition that creates a welcoming, shared space within the museum. The retrofit significantly improves energy performance by incorporating passive strategies and bird-safe glazing, while also providing ample natural light that makes the galleries feel airy and inviting. This project is an outstanding example of holistic adaptive reuse, prioritizing energy reduction and resource-conscious design, and successfully integrating contemporary elements into a cherished building while preserving its legacy.”
Bird-safe frit pattern inspired by Charles Darwin
Skylit infill addition known as the Central Gallery
Informed by over a decade of master planning, Centerbrook's design aims to reduce energy use intensity by nearly 50 percent, even while expanding the building with over 55,000 square feet of new conditioned space. Certified LEED Gold, the museum now features advanced mechanical systems, a high-performance envelope, and on-site stormwater management with bioswales and cisterns.
“This project reflects our long-standing commitment to designing buildings that honor their past while meeting the needs of the future. The Peabody is not just a museum — it’s a teaching tool for climate stewardship and an inviting, resilient space for generations to come.” Mark Simon, FAIA, Principal, Centerbrook
The 172,355-square-foot project includes a fourth-floor penthouse with panoramic views, a skylit Central Gallery with an indoor garden, and naturally lit public and staff spaces that prioritize occupant wellness. The historically sensitive restoration preserved original forms and materials while enhancing performance to protect the museum’s collections.
Presented in partnership with Connecticut Passive House, the AIA Connecticut Sustainable Architecture Awards recognize projects that help secure a more sustainable and environmentally thriving future. Centerbrook is honored to have collaborated with Yale on a project that redefines what’s possible in adaptive reuse and climate-conscious design.
Photos by Peter Aaron/OTTO
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