The Metropolitan Museum of Art Unveils Design for New Modern and Contemporary Art Wing

The Metropolitan Museum of Art today unveiled the design by architect Frida Escobedo for the Oscar L. Tang and H.M. Agnes Hsu-Tang Wing that will create a dynamic new home for The Met’s renowned collection of 20th- and 21st-century art. Escobedo is the first woman to design a wing in the Museum’s 154-year history, and the historic project will increase the current gallery space by nearly 50 percent, creating more than 70,000 square feet for the display of modern and contemporary art, while addressing accessibility, infrastructure, and sustainability needs across all floors and providing a wing that seamlessly connects with the rest of the Museum. Drawing inspiration from The Met’s varied architectural styles, diverse art holdings, and setting within Central Park, the Tang Wing will add to the Museum’s rich history of advancing thoughtful, bold, and visionary architecture that is itself a work of art.

The reimagined five-story wing will remain within the existing building’s 123,000-square-foot footprint and be no higher than the original height of the 1880 wing at the center of the Museum complex. Set to open in 2030, the 126,000-square-foot wing is expected to create 4,000 union jobs through its construction, and the project is targeting 30–40 percent participation by Minority- and Women-owned Business Enterprises. The design and engineering team consists of lead design architect Frida Escobedo Studio, executive architect Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners LLC, Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects, and engineering firms Kohler Ronan and Thornton Tomasetti.

In May 2024, the Museum announced a fundraising milestone of $550 million in private donations for the wing, demonstrating the extraordinary local, national, and international support for the project from both new and longtime trustees and donors.

“The Metropolitan Museum of Art is one of the crown jewels of New York City, an iconic cultural landmark representing New Yorkers to the rest of the world,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “By showcasing works of art created by new and established artists from all walks of life, the Tang Wing is a bold endeavor to expand our understanding of the role of art in New York’s culture and our society.”

“We are pleased to see this important project moving forward. This historic design by Frida Escobedo and commitment to accessibility in the new wing reflect the diversity and ambition of our city and will be beautifully integrated thanks to our partners at the Central Park Conservancy's work on the surrounding landscape,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue. “We congratulate The Met on this milestone, and we look forward to continuing to work with them and our partners across city government to further enhance this world-class destination for visitors of all backgrounds.”

“Frida Escobedo’s extraordinarily inspired, deeply thoughtful, and dynamic design for the Tang Wing cements her standing as one of today’s most relevant architects,” said Max Hollein, The Met’s Marina Kellen French Director and Chief Executive Officer. “As stewards of one of the most outstanding collections of 20th- and 21st-century art, The Met has a responsibility to New York City and the world to present the art of our time in exceptionally compelling, scholarly, and innovative displays that illuminate the rich—and at times surprising—connections that can be drawn across our collection of 5,000 years of art history. Escobedo’s elegant, contemporary design reflects not only an understanding of architectural history, materiality, and artistic expression but also a deep appreciation for The Met’s mission, collection, and visitors. We’re thrilled to reveal these exciting plans to our audiences, and incredibly grateful for the enthusiasm and significant support of our trustees, donors, and supporters across the city and beyond.”

“The reimagined Tang Wing will unlock exciting new ways for The Met’s millions of visitors to experience the Museum’s incredible collection and engage with a broad spectrum of contemporary voices,” added The Met’s Board of Trustees Co-Chairs Candace K. Beinecke and Hamilton (“Tony”) E. James. “With its inviting and immersive design, the wing will enable bold and innovative presentations that reflect the vibrant, multicultural spirit of New York City and the wider community.”

Oscar Tang and Agnes Hsu-Tang commented, “Frida Escobedo has conceived a space that is as inimitable as the masterpieces that form The Met. The new wing demonstrates The Met’s commitment to presenting visual histories across time, geography, and cultures. We are pleased to help galvanize this landmark project.”

“I applaud The Metropolitan Museum of Art on this major milestone towards building the Tang Wing for modern and contemporary art,” said Laurie Cumbo, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. "Frida Escobedo is making HERstory as the first woman to design a wing of The Met in its history, and it's clear that special attention has been given to creating an extraordinary space that will portray works of art reflective of the diverse experiences of all New Yorkers and visitors to the Museum. The city is proud of its long partnership with The Met to foster an institution where the greatest artworks from across history and around the world are open and accessible to all, and this milestone marks another step in keeping with this longstanding commitment."

“The design unveiled today by The Metropolitan Museum of Art makes its intention clear: the Tang Wing aims to reach millions of visitors from all corners of Manhattan and the world with its expanding collection of modern and contemporary art, including works from artists long underrepresented in the art world,” said Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine. “From the Upper East Side to Washington Heights, the Museum’s offerings showcase the diverse mosaic of these Manhattan neighborhoods representative of our borough. I thank the Museum for its continued investment in Manhattan and in Manhattanites.”

“We have a strong, long-standing partnership with The Met, and we enthusiastically support their commitment and ambition to replace its Modern and Contemporary Art wing, which currently falls short of the high standards of the Museum. Max and his team have been receptive to our design and landscape input, and the changes they have made have resulted in a better project. We look forward to continuing to collaborate on this dynamic project as The Met begins the public review process with the community and stakeholders,” said Betsy Smith, President & CEO, Central Park Conservancy.

“From the precious works of art that will be housed to the thousands of good-paying union jobs this project will create, the Tang Wing is undeniably a gift to New York City,” said New York State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal. “New York has long been heralded for its cultural and artistic offerings, and this new chapter of the Museum’s history will further cement its contributions to a more inclusive art world and to our city.”

“The new Tang Wing will be a world-class addition to The Metropolitan Museum of Art, providing a unique platform to tell the diverse stories of artists throughout the 20th- and 21st-centuries,” said Speaker Adrienne Adams. “I’m excited by the unveiled design by Frida Escobedo, whose vision will be on display for the entire world to see and enjoy. I congratulate The Metropolitan Museum of Art for reaching this historic milestone, and I look forward to visiting the new Tang Wing upon completion to celebrate this historic project.”

“The Tang Wing will allow more New Yorkers to view the phenomenal works of art in the Museum’s vast collection while also creating community gathering spaces, so visitors, such as my Upper West Side constituents, can experience the Museum as an immersive, educational institution. I look forward to the continued dialogue between The Met and Community Boards, preservation groups, and City agencies,” stated Council Member Gale A. Brewer.

“The Metropolitan Museum of Art is an iconic member of our Upper East Side community, so it’s thrilling to see the Museum enter its next curatorial chapter for the benefit of all New Yorkers and the millions of visitors who come to our community every year to see its expansive art collection,” said Council Member Keith Powers.

Said Council Member Carlina Rivera, Chair of the Committee on Cultural Affairs and Libraries, “The Met’s Tang Wing and its remarkable design represent a significant new chapter for both the Museum and our city’s cultural landscape. By showcasing the work of diverse artists in a groundbreaking space, this project underscores New York City’s vibrant creativity and enduring commitment to the arts.”

Frida Escobedo, Founder and Principal of Frida Escobedo Studio, said, “Our goal has been to create a building that fully meets the needs and aspirations of The Met, weaving together vital connections between the Modern and Contemporary Art galleries and other areas of the Museum and at the same time expressing the special significance of the Tang Wing’s place in the city. The wing is in New York, yet of the world; it reflects the global nature of this great collection and also draws inspiration from The Met’s unique surroundings. Such an ambition can be realized only through close and consistent collaboration. We are deeply grateful to our extraordinary partners at The Met and to all the members of the expert design team.”

Darren Walker, President of the Ford Foundation, stated, “With its innovative architecture and dynamic layout, The Met’s Tang Wing promises to offer an engaging environment for experiencing a wide range of contemporary voices, including those who have been historically underrepresented. The thoughtful design reinforces the Museum’s commitment to expanding the stories told within its galleries and fostering a deeper sense of connection for everyone who walks through its doors.”

Artist and Met Trustee Jordan Casteel commented, “The Met has long been a wellspring of creativity for artists like me, and Frida Escobedo beautifully continues that legacy through her brilliant design that draws inspiration, in part, from the Museum’s collection and existing architecture. I look forward to seeing the transformed wing brought to life, providing an enhanced platform for diverse artistic voices and perspectives to be seen and celebrated.”

With a global collection spanning more than 5,000 years, The Met is one of the few encyclopedic museums in the world that continues to collect as part of its mission and the only museum in New York City that can display 20th- and 21st-century works in dialogue with art from different centuries and cultures. Situated at the southwest corner of the Museum, the Modern and Contemporary Art galleries are located at a critical intersection within the institution: directly adjacent to the newly renovated Michael C. Rockefeller Wing, which displays art from sub-Saharan Africa, the Ancient Americas, and Oceania, and the Carroll and Milton Petrie Court, known for its monumental Italian and French sculptures. The existing wing’s design and layout, however, impede these connections, with the arrangement of its elevators, stairs, restrooms, and mechanical spaces presenting the greatest challenges to visitor wayfinding. The current spatial configurations significantly limit accessibility—one floor, for example, is only publicly accessible by stairs or through back-of-house space with a security escort. These constraints hamper the Museum’s ability to present its collection, particularly large-scale contemporary pieces.

Drawing inspiration from the iconic Central Park and the 21 buildings that make up The Met’s existing campus, Escobedo’s design artfully blends a contemporary approach into the Museum’s 154 years of architectural history. Comprising a three-story base with a recessed fourth floor and a further setback fifth floor, the scaled facade takes its cues from the Roche Dinkeloo visionary 1971 master plan, which calls for a rhythm of solids and voids, as exemplified through the use of glass and limestone in the seven buildings Kevin Roche designed. In a continuation of that overarching vision for the Museum, Escobedo’s facade is defined by a limestone “celosía”—an architectural screen that references a universal architectural language spanning multiple cultures and centuries. Its mineral texture and stone lattice will create a diaphanous surface designed to subtly respond to the movement of sunlight throughout the day. Coupled with the intermittent use of floor-to-ceiling glass, the materiality and composition of Escobedo’s design thoughtfully integrates hallmark design features of Roche’s wings with signature design elements from Richard Morris Hunt and McKim, Mead and White’s Beaux Arts Fifth Avenue facade.

Inside, Escobedo’s design creates rhythmic gallery spaces that flow into one another and can show works of varying scales and complexity. The varying ceiling heights, ranging from 11 to 22 feet, allow for the display of large-scale installations in dialogue with more intimate spaces. With a reconfigured building layout and programming, the total gallery space will increase by nearly 50 percent. In addition, the fifth floor will include a 1,000-square-foot cafe where visitors can pause to enjoy refreshments before continuing their exploration of the Modern and Contemporary Art galleries.

The rooftop views that New Yorkers and visitors alike have come to expect will be available year-round from indoor and outdoor spaces. The large south-facing windows in the fourth- and fifth-floor galleries will bring the iconic views of Central Park and the Manhattan skyline inside for four-season enjoyment. Both floors will also offer direct connections to the park and the city, adding a total of approximately 18,500 square feet of outdoor space spread across the fourth- and fifth-floor terraces. The Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Roof Garden, currently located on the fifth floor, will move to the fourth-floor terrace, where visitors will once again be able to enjoy art set against the backdrop of Central Park and the city skyline. In its new home on the fourth floor, space for the seasonal Cantor Roof Garden will expand from 7,500 square feet to nearly 10,000 square feet. The fifth-floor outdoor area will feature landscape designed by Thomas Woltz of Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects that takes its inspiration from the layered traditions of Central Park. This outdoor area will offer visitors a place of respite where they can reconnect with the natural world and the city beyond.

The configuration of the new wing and its infrastructure will critically improve accessibility for all staff and visitors. The addition of a second elevator core, ramps, more entry points, and better circulation routes will offer equal access to all floors and represent a smarter use of the available space.

The new building will also utilize cutting-edge design practices to dramatically reduce energy consumption in that part of the Museum. At least a quarter of the galleries in the existing wing have southern or western exposures with light conditions that render the spaces unsafe for the long-term display of art and require significant energy to maintain appropriate temperature and humidity levels. The articulated facade and thoughtful placement of windows in the new wing, along with a below-ground mechanical space, will reduce solar gain while also maximizing the use of natural light in galleries, contributing to The Met’s overall sustainability goals.

The project also includes landscape restorations and improvements to bring the green spaces immediately around the building up to the impeccable standards set by Central Park. Following the design principles set out by the park’s original landscape architect, Frederick Law Olmsted, the improvements include replacing the lawn adjacent to the wing with canopy trees, low shrubs, grassy areas, and other plantings. Site landscape improvements are being designed by the Central Park Conservancy (CPC), in coordination with the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation (NYC Parks) and The Met.

The Museum will continue to collaborate closely with NYC Parks and the CPC as NYC Parks advances the project through environmental review. At the same time, The Met is working toward public review by the Landmarks Preservation Commission, followed by the Public Design Commission starting in 2025.

All Images: Renderings of The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Tang Wing. Visualizations by ©Filippo Bolognese Images, courtesy of Frida Escobedo Studio