The Water and Life Museums are born of the construction of Diamond Valley Lake (DVL), the largest man-made water storage lake in North America. Set in the semi-arid Southern California desert near Hemet, DVL is an integral part of the state's water infrastructure. The lake provides a 6-month emergency supply of water for all of Southern California. Diamond Valley existed between 2 mountain ranges. Diamond Valley Lake was created by damming the Valley's open ends with two 300' high dams. The East Dam is 2.5 miles long. The Dam, is made from rock mined from these mountains. The Museums sit near the base of the East Dam of DVL. The construction of these dams is the largest earthwork project in American history.
The Water and Life Museums and campus celebrate the infrastructure of water and its central role in the evolution of life and development in California
The Museums are located half way between Hoover Dam and Los Angele
The construction of the dams is the largest earthwork project in American history
The Water and Life Museums are born of the construction of Diamond Valley Lake
The design draws inspiration from the honorific architecture of Gordon Kaufman, Parker Dam, its pump houses, and the serial turbines
Loggia lined plaza and xeroscape for civic activities
The site consists of 10 steel towers, 16’ wide, 46’ high
The concept was to harness, celebrate, and control the fierce desert sun
The design aims to place beauty and sustainability at the center of its agenda
Courtyard lined with photovoltaic covered loggia that provide a covered entry to the Museums
A 550-kilowatt rooftop solar-power array of 3,000 solar panels generates energy for 50% of museum building and campus needs
The 8’ high datum unifies buildings horizontally, achieves intimacy while giving the building/loggia mass approporiate grandeur
LEED Platinum rated building
Loggia detail
Loggia detail
Photovoltaic covered loggia
Facade
Facade detail
The exhibit space, where the story of water, its conservation, and stewardship, is told