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New-York Historical Society announces $140m expansion and LGBTQ+ Museum

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The New-York Historical Society has announced a $140m expansion of its building, which will house the new American LGBTQ+ Museum.

The New-York Historical Society is expanding its building on Central Park West, which will add more than 70,000 square feet of space to the institution and house the American LGBTQ+ Museum.

New York‘s first museum dedicated to LGBTQ+ history and culture was announced by Louise Mirrer, president and CEO of New York City’s oldest museum.

“How gratifying it is to realize the dream of telling the American story in all its complexity in state-of-the-art educational spaces and a brand-new gallery dedicated to the struggle for civil rights of the American LGBTQ+ community,” Miller said.

Designed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects, the expansion includes additional classrooms, galleries, study areas and a state-of-the-art storage facility for the museum’s Patricia D. Klingenstein Library.

New York expansion project set to begin in 2022

“We look forward to bringing a dynamic new museum to life within this cherished, deeply-respected, and growing New York City landmark,” said Richard Burns, chair of the board of directors at the American LGBTQ+ Museum.

During construction, the American LGBTQ+ Museum will team up with the New-York Historical Society to develop programming in the museum’s existing spaces.

Upon completion, the American LGBTQ+ Museum will occupy the expansion’s fourth floor. It will boast two galleries, and visitors will be able to access the roof garden.

The New-York Historical Society plans to expand in phases, with the first phase scheduled to begin in summer 2022. The second phase will start once target funding is achieved.

Construction of the American LGBTQ+ Museum

The American LGBTQ+ Museum will explore the history and culture of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people through exhibitions and programmes. The institution aims to advance LGBTQ+ equality.

“It’s been a privilege to work with the New-York Historical Society to design an expansion of its landmark building, enabling it to extend its broad and vital mission to a growing audience that ranges from local schoolchildren to international visitors,” said Stern.

“With input from engaged and supportive neighbors and in response to the historic neighboring townhouses, the design of the expansion is sympathetic to the palette and rhythm of the 1908 building and its 1938 additions.”

Elsewhere, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) has announced that SmithGroup will design the museum’s expansion and renovation project, set to open in 2025.

Images: New-York Historical Society

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Bea Mitchell

Bea is a journalist specialising in entertainment, attractions and tech with 10 years' experience. She has written and edited for publications including CNET, BuzzFeed, Digital Spy, Evening Standard and BBC. Bea graduated from King's College London and has an MA in journalism.

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