The Metropolitan Museum of Art Announces $550 Million Funding Milestone

The announcement comes as The Met moves forward with its design process to transform its outdated wing into a world-class home for the Museum’s renowned holdings of 20th- and 21st-century art where all New Yorkers can see themselves reflected in the works on view. The major overhaul will allow The Met to best present the diversity and range of perspectives represented throughout its collection. Construction is expected to generate 4,000 union jobs, targeting 30-40 percent Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprise participation, and the new wing is expected to open in 2029.The Met has sought to revamp its modern wing for more than a decade. Upon his arrival in 2018, Max Hollein, together with a core team at The Met, began a comprehensive review and revised plan for the Museum’s modern and contemporary art galleries. The new galleries will enable the Museum to approach 20th- and 21st-century art from a range of global and local perspectives and expand and diversify the stories told at The Met. 

The Met’s bold new vision for the Tang Wing is helmed by Mexican architect Frida Escobedo—the first woman to design a new wing in the Museum’s 154-year history. Her design will weave the Tang Wing into the scale and design of the Museum’s campus and one of the great works of public art—Central Park. The new wing will remain within the existing wing’s footprint and be no higher than the original building the Museum is built around. Replacing the aging 120,000-square-foot wing with a new 125,000-square-foot building will create much-needed additional gallery space by rethinking and reconfiguring existing infrastructure and layouts. 

The project will also address critical infrastructure needs that will improve accessibility for all visitors and staff. The new Tang Wing will improve the visitor experience by smoothing the transitions between galleries and by creating dynamic spaces for the exhibition of art of varying scales and media, thoughtfully designed outdoor spaces, and areas for expanded educational and community programming. The project will utilize cutting-edge sustainable design practices, with an eye to reducing its carbon footprint. 

Main Image :Courtesy The Metropolitan Museum of Art