The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York has broken ground on its new wing dedicated to modern and contemporary art.
Designed by Frida Escobedo, the first woman to design a wing in The Met’s 156-year history, the five-storey Tang Wing will offer 69,500 square feet of exhibition space within a 126,000-square-foot building.
The groundbreaking ceremony took place on 15 September, bringing together city and state officials, Met leaders, donors and trustees to mark the start of construction.
The Met’s Tang Wing will expand exhibition space for its modern and contemporary art collection in New York.The Met
The Met’s board of trustees co-chairs Candace K Beinecke and Hamilton E James said: "Today's groundbreaking marks a major milestone for The Met and for New York City.
"This new wing will be a spectacular setting for our visitors to explore modern and contemporary art in fresh and exciting ways, ensuring that the museum remains an important resource for our millions of visitors from across the five boroughs and around the world.
"We're deeply grateful to the many trustees, donors, elected officials, and civic partners for their steadfast and enthusiastic support that has made this extraordinary endeavour possible."
Expected to open in 2030, the renovation and expansion of the existing modern and contemporary wing will improve accessibility, infrastructure and sustainability, and connect to the rest of The Met.
The Met Museum’s Tang Wing will provide 69,500 square feet of exhibition space for modern and contemporary artMet museum
Previously reported at $550m, the project has raised $670m to cover the full cost of construction and a significant portion of a new endowment to operate the wing.
Escobedo said: "The design for the Tang Wing weaves together the many architectural styles that make up The Met’s campus, honouring each building’s own history while creating a space that is distinctly of our time."
"Working with Frida Escobedo on her visionary design has been an enormous privilege, and together with our trustees and donors we are excited to celebrate this important milestone as we begin the work that will turn that vision into a reality," said Max Hollein, CEO and director of The Met.
