The Metropolitan Museum of Art has unveiled designs for a long-awaited five-story wing dedicated to modern and contemporary art, a project that has been in development for nearly a decade. Designed by Frida Escobedo—the first woman to design a wing for the 154-year-old institution—the space will span 126,000 square feet and is slated to open in 2030. To date, the museum has raised $550 million in private donations to fund the $550 million project.
Named the Oscar L. Tang and H.M. Agnes Hsu-Tang Wing in honor of donors who contributed $125 million, the project has been in progress since 2014. Financial challenges initially delayed the renovation, but the Met now appears to have secured enough funds to complete its vision. The new wing will showcase masterpieces from the 20th and 21st centuries across 70,000 square feet of gallery space, including significant Cubist works gifted by Leonard Lauder in 2013. It will expand the museum’s gallery space for modern and contemporary art by approximately 50 percent.
In addition to providing more space for art, the project aims to address accessibility issues in the current galleries, which have hindered visitors and staff with poor lighting, limited space, and stair access. The wing’s construction will also create jobs for 4,000 union workers.
Escobedo’s design emphasizes global inclusivity, reflecting the museum’s efforts to broaden its focus beyond American and European art. The facade will feature a limestone celosía—an architectural screen that evokes a universal design language spanning cultures and centuries. Plans also include a fifth-floor cafe and a relocated sculpture garden on a fourth-floor terrace. This new terrace will replace the rooftop sculpture garden, which has previously displayed works by artists such as Jeff Koons and Adrián Villar Rojas.
Max Hollein, the Met’s director, stated that “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.”
New York City Mayor Eric Adams lauded the project as a “bold endeavor” that enhances the role of art in the city’s culture and society.
