The Museum of Tomorrow – A Case Study

The Museum of Tomorrow is a science museum located on the waterfront of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and is one of the most visited museums in the country. Known for its striking architectural form, use of local resources, and forward-looking mission, the project serves as a compelling case study for sustainable design in practice. This course begins with an overview of sustainable design principles and introduces the AIA COTE Measures of Sustainable Design as a framework for evaluating architectural performance. Using these measures as a lens, participants will examine how the Museum of Tomorrow integrates environmental strategies related to energy, water, materials, site, and long-term resilience to meet its sustainability goals. The project was certified under an earlier version of LEED, and this course references that certification for context. In addition, the course introduces current LEED frameworks, including LEED v5 Impact Areas, to help learners connect legacy project strategies with today’s evolving sustainability priorities. Rather than focusing on certification requirements, the course emphasizes design intent, decision-making, and transferable lessons that can inform contemporary architectural practice.