along Lake Michigan
The museum’s most notable feature is its soaring wing-like sun screen set atop the reception hall. Constructed out of steel, 36 fins form the Burke Brise Soleil, which has a wingspan of 217 feet and opens and closes twice a day. During the day, the screen opens up to shade the glass entrance hall from the sun and at night, the screen closes down like a bird folding his wings to sleep. The wingspan is comparable to that of a Boeing 747-400; it has two ultrasonic wind sensors that automatically close the wings if the wind speed reaches 23 mph or greater.
