The Metropolitan Museum of Art unveils blueprint for upcoming $550-million expansion project

The Metropolitan Museum of Art unveils blueprint for upcoming $550-million expansion project

Construction on the Oscar L. Tang and H.M. Agnes Hsu-Tang Wing, named after the generous couple who donated $125 million to the project, is set to commence in 2026 and conclude in 2030.

Max Hollein, the Met's director and CEO, praised Frida Escobedo's design in a statement, asserting that her "innovative, insightful, and lively approach" solidifies her status as one of today's most pertinent architects. Hollein praised Escobedo's design, which appreciates architectural history, materiality, and artistic expression, while simultaneously showcasing a deep affection for the Met, its collection, and its visitors.

Escobedo's renovation of the Met's modern and contemporary art wing, located in the museum's southwest Central Park complex, will not increase the museum's overall size but will provide approximately 50% more exhibition space, enhancing the wing's total gallery area to roughly 71,000 square feet.

The wing's design features a stepped, angular façade adorned with limestone latticework, reminiscent of the Mexican "celosía"—a traditional breeze wall with roots in Spanish, Middle Eastern, and African architectural traditions. The design also includes 18,500 square feet of outdoor terraces on the wing's fourth and fifth floors.

The structure will consist of a three-story foundation supporting recessed fourth and fifth floors, according to a spokesperson for Escobedo's studio. The fourth floor will house a blend of exhibition galleries and a terrace, showcasing contemporary art installations, much like the current rooftop terrace. The fifth floor will be dedicated to temporary exhibitions, an additional landscaped terrace, and welcoming spaces for reflection and community gatherings, offering vantage points of Central Park and New York City.

As of May 2021, the Met had secured $550 million in private donations for the project. In addition to Escobedo's firm, the project team includes executive architecture firm Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners, Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects, and the engineering firms Kohler Ronan and Thornton Tomasetti. The building will incorporate several eco-friendly features, such as controlled daylight, on-site stormwater retention, a green roof, and improved thermal performance, and will pursue LEED Gold certification from the US Green Building Council.

Jordan Casteel, an artist and Met trustee, expressed her appreciation for the project in a statement, praising Escobedo's design for extending the Met's rich creative legacy. Casteel expressed excitement at the prospect of viewing the transformed wing, which will provide a more prominent stage for diverse artistic voices and perspectives to be showcased and celebrated.

The Tang Wing project is not the museum's only significant capital venture. The Met is currently in the final stages of a $70-million upgrade of its Michael C. Rockefeller Wing, which showcases African, ancient American, and Oceanic art galleries. Last year, the museum also announced plans to transform one of its most prominent retail spaces into additional gallery space for its Costume Institute, which organizes captivating fashion exhibitions. Moreover, the Met recently completed both a rehang of its American Wing to commemorate its centennial and a new interactive learning center.

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The style of Frida Escobedo's design for the Met's modern and contemporary art wing integrates historical appreciation, materiality, and artistic expression, making it a fitting addition to the arts scene. Upon completion, visitors will be able to enjoy the revitalized wing, featuring an expansive outdoor terrace and temporary exhibition spaces, expanding the scope of diverse artistic voices in the arts.

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