metropolitan museum unveils first visuals of new wing by frida escobedo

A modern wing for Historic metropolitan museum of art

The Metropolitan Museum of Art has revealed the design for its new Modern and Contemporary Art Wing by Frida Escobedo Studio. This groundbreaking project, led by the first woman to design a wing in the museum’s 154-year history, will expand The Met’s capacity to display 20th- and 21st-century art while enhancing accessibility, sustainability, and integration with its historic New York City campus.

The new wing, officially named the Oscar L. Tang and H.M. Agnes Hsu-Tang Wing, will increase gallery space by nearly 50%, adding over 70,000 square feet to accommodate modern and contemporary art. Designed to address limitations in accessibility and infrastructure, the wing’s five-story structure will connect with adjacent galleries and the broader museum complex. The design maximizes the use of the existing 123,000-square-foot footprint, preserving the original height of the 1880-built wing at the museum’s core. See designboom’s previous coverage here.

images © Brett Beyer, courtesy The Met

Reimagined Gallery Spaces by frida escobedo

Architect Frida Escobedo’s design reflects The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s architectural legacy, which spans twenty-one interconnected buildings and multiple styles. The limestone facade of the museum‘s new wing incorporates a ‘celosía’ latticework inspired by architectural traditions from around the world. This textured surface will allow light to subtly shift throughout the day, respecting the iconic and picturesque Central Park setting. The inclusion of glass elements echoes Kevin Roche’s 1971 masterplan for The Met, creating a dialogue with the museum’s existing Beaux-Arts and modernist designs.

Inside, the wing features interconnected gallery spaces with ceilings ranging from 11 to 22 feet, accommodating both large-scale installations and more intimate works. The redesign also enhances visitor experience through improved wayfinding and circulation. The fifth floor includes a new 1,000-square-foot café, while the galleries integrate views of Central Park and the Manhattan skyline, creating a cohesive indoor-outdoor experience.

the Metropolitan Museum unveils the new design for Frida Escobedo’s Modern and Contemporary Art Wing

Enhanced Outdoor and Rooftop Spaces

The project by Frida Escobedo significantly expands The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s outdoor areas, adding 18,500 square feet of terraces across the fourth and fifth floors. The beloved rooftop garden will relocate to a larger terrace on the fourth floor, growing its footprint from 7,500 to nearly 10,000 square feet. Landscape design by Thomas Woltz draws inspiration from Central Park’s layered traditions, offering visitors serene outdoor spaces to complement their museum experience.

The new wing incorporates state-of-the-art accessibility features, including additional elevator cores, ramps, and optimized circulation paths. Sustainability is a core focus, with reduced solar gain, energy-efficient climate control, and thoughtful use of natural light. The museum’s commitment to reducing energy consumption aligns with broader sustainability goals.

The surrounding landscape will be revitalized to complement the building’s design and its Central Park setting. Collaborating with the Central Park Conservancy and NYC Parks, the museum will restore adjacent green spaces, adding canopy trees, shrubs, and grassy areas in line with Frederick Law Olmsted’s original vision for the park.

visitors will enjoy year-round rooftop views and expanded outdoor terraces overlooking Central Park

Set to open in 2030, the project has already secured $550 million in private donations, highlighting broad support from local and global communities. The Metropolitan Museum continues its tradition of architectural innovation, establishing this new wing as both a cultural landmark and a sustainable model for the future of museum design.

‘Frida Escobedo’s extraordinarily inspired, deeply thoughtful, and dynamic design for the Tang Wing cements her standing as one of today’s most relevant architects,’ said Max Hollein, The Met’s Marina Kellen French Director and Chief Executive Officer. ‘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. We’re thrilled to reveal these exciting plans to our audiences, and incredibly grateful for the enthusiasm and significant support of our trustees, donors, and supporters across the city and beyond.’

the project will increase gallery space by nearly fifty percent to over 70,000 square feet