The extreme climatic conditions of Yakustk, Russia and the unique programmatic combination of a science laboratory and museum drove the design of the project.  The building is sited at the foot of the Tchoutchour Mouran, a hill puncturing the flat landscape of Yakustk.  The building’s volume responds to the terrain in its shape as well as in mimicking the natural pattern of the shifting permafrost cycles.  The museum is elevated 20 feet off the ground to prevent heat transfer between the structure and ground, keeping the building climate stable during the dramatic climatic swings of Siberia.  To keep a constant climate on the interior,  Leeser Architecture designed an envelope is constructed of a super-insulated double wall glazed facade with an Aerogel lattice network situated between the glazing layers.