The Metropolitan Museum of Art, widely regarded as one of the most important cultural institutions in the United States, has an unparalleled collection of 1.5 million works of art spanning 5,000 years of human history. Since its founding, the museum has been an encyclopedic art center, but its commitment to modern art, established in 1967 under Henry Geldzahler, adds a forward-looking dimension to its legacy. Originally focusing on American painting and sculpture, the Department of Modern Art expanded in the 1970s to include European art, decorative arts and design. In recent years, especially since 2012, the Met has made great strides in diversifying its collection, prioritizing works by women and artists of color with an emphasis on Latin America, South Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, Turkey and Africa. diasporas.
Now the evolving series of modern and contemporary art centers will gain a new home in the Oscar L. Tang and HM Agnes Hsu-Tang Wing, a project set to redefine the Met's presence when it is completed in 2030. Designed by famous Mexican architect Frida. Escobedo, the construction of the wing will mark a milestone as the first designed by a woman in a museum. 154 years of history. Escobedo, selected for the project in 2022, unveiled a design that creatively blends past and present, seamlessly connecting to the unique heritage of the museum's architecture while introducing a dynamic, contemporary sensibility. The new wing promises to transform the museum experience, adding more than 70,000 square meters of modern and contemporary art gallery space—almost 50 percent. Beyond its sheer size, the Tang Wing will address critical issues of accessibility, sustainability and infrastructure, bringing museum operations into the 21st century.
Escobedo described his vision as one that freely connects the Modern and Contemporary Art galleries and the museum's extensive collections, enhancing their dialogue and the iconography of the new wing as a landmark of New York City. “The wing is in New York, yet it is earthly; it reflects the nature of this beautiful global collection and draws inspiration from the unique environment of The Met,” he explained in a statement.
Designed as a three-story building with a recessed fourth floor and an additional setback on the fifth, the scaled facade of the Met's new wing draws inspiration from Kevin Roche's 1971 vision plan. Echoing Roche's rhythm of solids and voids, originally expressed through the juxtaposition of glass and limestone in the seven buildings he designed for the museum, Escobedo's façade will redefine these elements with a modern twist. Designed in “celosía” limestone, the facade combines a unique mineral texture and stone latticework, creating a luminous space that dances with the sunlight throughout the day. This dynamic interplay of light and shadow not only embodies Roche's design and architectural heritage but also nods to the universal language of architecture that transcends cultures and ages. Floor-to-ceiling glass elements also complement the limestone, echoing the distinctive features of the museum's existing buildings, including the Beaux-Arts Fifth Avenue designed by Richard Morris Hunt and McKim, Mead & White.
Inside, Escobedo envisions a rhythmic and fluid space with ceiling heights ranging from 11 to 22 feet, offering unparalleled flexibility for screenings. The various heights will accommodate a large amount of installation while also creating intimate spaces for quiet meditation. A café on the fifth floor will provide visitors with a place to pause and recharge, while large, south-facing windows on the fourth and fifth floors will feature remarkable views of Central Park and the Manhattan skyline year-round, incorporating an artistic experience. and nature.
Accessibility and sustainability are central to the project. The addition of a second elevator core, ramps and multiple entrances will greatly improve the functionality of the building for all visitors. At the same time, smart window placement will improve the use of natural light, reduce energy consumption while protecting artworks from harmful sun exposure. These measures, along with energy saving initiatives, underline the museum's commitment to environmental responsibility.
The redesign extends beyond the building itself, with plans to raise the surrounding outdoor areas to meet the standards of Central Park. In partnership with the Central Park Conservancy (CPC) and the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation (NYC parks) the Met will integrate the museum's green spaces into the park's wider landscape, enhancing the visitor experience inside and out.
Max Hollein, director and CEO of the Met, spoke to the media about the importance of the project in bringing modern art to the forefront of the institution's mission. “The Met has a responsibility in New York City and around the world to present the art of our time through compelling, scholarly, and innovative exhibitions that illuminate the rich—and sometimes surprising—connections that can be drawn throughout our collection,” it said. “Escobedo's sleek, contemporary design reflects not only an understanding of architectural history, material design, and artistic expression but also a deep appreciation for the Met's purpose, collection, and visitors.”
A history of the Met's modern and contemporary collection
Since 1987, the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection of 20th and 21st century art has been housed in the Lila Acheson Wallace Wing. However, as the collection grew and the museum's ambitions expanded, it became clear that more space was needed to properly display the art of our time. For a short time, the Met met this need by using the Met Breuer, a contemporary icon on Madison Avenue, to put on a series of prestigious exhibitions. The program was launched in 2016 with two landmark inaugural exhibitions: “Unfinished: Thoughts Left Visible,” a multi-door exhibition of the “nonfinito” style with works by artists ranging from Titian to Louise Bourgeois, and the largest exhibition ever dedicated to India. contemporary scholar Nasreen Mohamedi. However, financial concerns and the global upheaval of Covid-19 forced the Met to close the contemporary art-focused Met Breuer permanently in July 2020, leasing the building to the Frick Collection, which used the space temporarily while its galleries Fifth Avenue. it was fixed.
The need for a modern and modern gallery at the Met has long been important. In 2014, the museum announced a $600 million plan to rebuild its wing dedicated to the collection, but financial problems put the project on hold. At the time, then-director Thomas P. Campbell emphasized the importance of this effort, calling it “an urgent project we are pursuing first” and noting that the museum was “baking these long-term projects into a responsible master plan that matches our strengths.” with our wishes.”
The project gained new momentum in 2021 when the Met received a record donation of $125 million from longtime curator Oscar L. Tang and his wife, Agnes Hsu-Tang, an archaeologist and art historian, for whom the new wing is named. In May 2024, the museum announced that it had reached its fundraising goal of $550 million in private donations, finally securing the resources needed to launch a long-awaited expansion. The project is expected to generate 4,000 union jobs, with 30-40 percent of the work directed to small and women-owned businesses, making it an important step forward not only for the museum but for the community as a whole.
