The New Museum in New York has opened its 60,000-square-foot expansion, designed by architecture firm OMA.
Manhattan’s only museum dedicated exclusively to contemporary art closed for the project in March 2024.
The new building was designed by OMA's Shohei Shigematsu and Rem Koolhaas in collaboration with executive architect Cooper Robertson.
Made possible by a $130 million capital campaign, the new addition was created to blend seamlessly with the museum's existing Sanaa-designed flagship building.
"Our 120,000-square-foot building offers myriad new opportunities for the New Museum to support and partner with artists and art institutions across the globe while remaining deeply rooted in New York City," said Lisa Phillips, director of the New Museum.
The expanded New Museum provides twice the gallery space for exhibitions, as well as fluid circulation with the addition of three elevators, an atrium stair, and an entrance plaza.
It also includes new venues for public programmes and special events, including an enlarged seventh floor Sky Room, and a new 74-seat forum.
On its upper floors, the expanded building features a dedicated studio for artists-in-residence and a purpose-built home for the museum’s cultural incubator, New Inc.
On the ground level, visitors can enjoy an enlarged lobby, an expanded bookstore, and from spring 2026, a full-service restaurant operated by the Oberon Group.
"I’m particularly excited that our first public building in New York City will be for the New Museum, one of the most forward-thinking institutions for which I’ve always had a great affinity," said Rem Koolhaas, OMA partner.
OMA partner Shohei Shigematsu said: "While maintaining the architectural integrity of SANAA’s original building, our design seeks to create a new whole rather than two halves, adding space and openness with its own distinct identity."
The New Museum's inaugural exhibition is titled New Humans: Memories of the Future.
The show spans the entire museum and features works by more than 200 artists, writers, scientists, architects, and filmmakers.
Images courtesy of the New Museum / OMA
