The Metropolitan Museum of Art shared the first renderings of its transformative expansion plans. The new Tang Wing, projected to open in 2030, will house modern and contemporary art across five floors of galleries at the New York City landmark.
The Met Unveils $550 Million Vision for New Wing
The Met has been planning to create a new wing for modern and contemporary art since 2014. The museum recently raised enough money to officially move forward with the project following a $125 million donation from the new wing’s namesakes, Oscar L. Tang and H.M. Agnes Hsu-Tang. The new Tang Wing will span 126,000 feet and cost $550 million. It will house The Met’s collection of art from the 20th and 21st centuries across 70,000 square feet of new gallery space.
This week, The Met revealed a first look at the planned wing, designed by architect Frida Escobedo. Max Hollein, director of The Met, said in a statement, “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.”
Architect Frida Escobedo Designs 5-Story Wing
Frida Escobedo, an award-winning architect from Mexico, is the first woman to design a new wing for The Met in the museum’s 154-year history. The new five-story wing is designed to increase gallery space by nearly 50 percent without extending the existing building’s footprint or exceeding the height of the 1880 wing at the center of The Met. The museum’s vast collection, various architectural styles, and proximity to Central Park inspired Escobedo’s design, which will function as a work of art in its own right.
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The Met’s new wing will improve accessibility and sustainability at the museum, adding dynamic indoor and outdoor spaces for exhibitions, as well as educational and community programming. It also supports The Met’s goal to globalize its modern and contemporary art galleries. Construction will begin in 2026, and sustainable design practices will be utilized to reduce energy consumption. The project will reportedly generate 4,000 union jobs, targeting 30 to 40 percent participation by minority and women-owned businesses.
New Wing Brings New Sculpture Garden to The Met
Another notable element of Escobedo’s new design for The Met is an expanded relocated sculpture garden. The museum’s current sculpture garden is famously located on its fifth-floor rooftop, which boasts panoramic views of Central Park. Each summer since 1998, the rooftop has hosted a single-artist exhibition by the likes of Jeff Koons and Ellsworth Kelly. It attracts scores of visitors during warm-weather months. Come 2030, The Met will debut a new sculpture garden on a terrace on the Tang Wing’s recessed fourth floor. Floor-to-ceiling windows will offer scenic views year-round, and a new cafe will open on the fifth floor.
