Edelman Fossil Park & Museum of Rowan University

the opportunity

In collaboration with Ennead Architects, KSS Architects designed the new Jean & Ric Edelman Fossil Park & Museum of Rowan University. The museum and visitor center are sited within a 65-acre fossil park in Mantua Township, New Jersey, on a former 4-acre marl quarry containing 66-million-year-old marine and terrestrial fossils—offering critical evidence of the fifth mass extinction. Perched on a ridge between a quarry to the south and a pond to the north, the museum is centrally located within the site’s 123 acres and positioned to frame expansive views and connect visitors to the surrounding landscape

our approach

The 44,000-square-foot facility features an integrated design centered around immersive exhibits, hands-on learning, and direct engagement with the site’s scientific resources. Surrounded by a network of nature trails, the museum connects interior programs with outdoor exploration, culminating in the active dig site where visitors can excavate fossils alongside researchers. The architecture draws from the natural environment through a material palette of wood and concrete. Mass timber is used in key public spaces—including the lobby and café—to enhance user experience through warmth, tactility, and a visual connection to nature. Extensive glazing and a terrace on the southern façade provide direct visual access to the quarry and reinforce the indoor-outdoor relationship.

The architectural approach frames the landscape as an integral part of the visitor journey. A series of wood-clad pavilions, shaped to direct views and movement, house interior programs while aligning with outdoor elements. The design supports a deliberate sequence—from arrival and interior interpretation to active fossil exploration—that reflects the site's scientific narrative and enhances user engagement. The use of mass timber throughout the public areas creates a tactile connection to the natural surroundings and improves the quality of the indoor environment.

Sustainability

The Edelman Fossil Park & Museum is designed to be one of New Jersey’s largest public net-zero carbon emissions buildings and follows the rigorous sustainability goals of the Living Building Challenge (LBC). The design incorporates geothermal wells for heating and cooling, an all-electric mechanical system, and a high-performance envelope to reduce energy demand. The building is photovoltaic-ready, allowing for future on-site solar energy production. Mass timber construction contributes to lower embodied carbon, while bird-friendly glass and regenerative landscape strategies support local ecology and biodiversity. Through passive and active design measures, the project reflects Rowan University’s commitment to advancing scientific literacy and sustainability through direct public engagement.

Program

Exhibit space including hands-on fossil laboratory, 150-seat theater, and virtual reality experience, lobby, event space, research laboratories, administrative suite, retail, café, veranda, playground 

Partners

Ennead Architects, Design Architect

KSS Architects, Architect of Record

Gallagher & Associates, Experience Design

Buro Happold, Engineer & Sustainability

SEEDdesign / Yaki Miodovnik, Landscape Architect

Photography

Jeff Goldberg/Esto

Courtesy Edelman Fossil Park & Museum