RiverSphere
RiverSphere is a place for real work, research, public exhibition, and economic development. RiverSphere is slated for an 80,000 square foot site on the banks of the Mississippi River in downtown New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.The site is located about one mile upriver from the French Quarter and 1-2 miles from Tulane University’s downtown and uptown campuses, respectively. RiverSphere co-occupies a wharf and is proud to partner with Mardi Gras World.
RiverSphere is a Center for Excellence in Renewable Energy System:
- Creates renewable energies including river turbines and develop their economic markets;
- Creates green collar jobs, including technology development, research, and manufacturing in the Gulf South;
- Assesses the conditions of water resources on the Mississippi River Systems in order to ensure sustainable patterns of use by all who depend on its bounty; and
- Convenes, inspires and hosts scientists, businesses, educators, engineers and industrialists from local, regional, national and international renewable energy communities.
RiverSphere is a project of Tulane University, led by the Tulane/Xavier Center for Bioenvironmental Research in partnership with numerous other organizations.
RiverSphere, a place to study rivers, is optimally suited for this site because the Mississippi is North America’s greatest river, and because New Orleans was established to take advantage of the strategic artery as it approaches the Gulf of Mexico, 95 miles downriver.
RiverSphere was formed in 1998, and was initially conceived as a museum devoted to the Mississippi, the concept grew more sophisticated to include science, history, culture, art, education and a number of other angles, all unified by the central organizing principle of the Mississippi and other world rivers, open to (and relevant to) people of all disciplines and backgrounds.
RiverSphere gained momentum as people came to appreciate the uniqueness of the vision and the need for such an interdisciplinary forum devoted to rivers. In 2003, the River Park Partnership generously donated 5.25 acres of riverfront land, worth $7.4M, to Tulane University for RiverSphere. The prime real estate was augmented the following year when Tulane purchased an adjacent 150,000 square feet for $1.3M.
Meanwhile, the acclaimed Canadian firm Bruce Mau Design was contracted to translate the vision into a conceptual design. Their work, carried out in close collaboration with RiverSphere founders and partners, yielded a bold design with numerous interlocking components.
The conceptual master plan was developed by Eskew + Dumez + Ripple in partnership with a team of engineers and designers. This expert team included Manning Architects (New Orleans) for wharf and port facility assessment, Bruce Mau Design (Toronto) for content programming, Hargreaves Associates (New York City) for landscape architecture, Matthias Schuler/Transolar (Stuttgart and New York City) for climate engineering and sustainability, and Baker Design Group (Boston) for distance learning and educational technology.
The project is entering the design and development phase of RiverSphere Center for Excellence in Renewable Energy Systems that will promote water resource research and education; hydrokinetic energy testing, development, and business incubation; as well as public exhibition.
