The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York has unveiled the initial designs for its new wing dedicated to modern and contemporary art. This ambitious $550 million project will cover approximately 126,000 square feet and is being designed by Frida Escobedo, marking her as the first female architect to create a wing for the museum in its 154-year history.
Named the Oscar L. Tang and H.M. Agnes Hsu-Tang Wing, in recognition of the couple who generously donated $125 million to fund the project, construction is set to begin in 2026, with the wing expected to open in 2030.
Max Hollein, the director and chief executive of the Met, praised Frida Escobedo’s design for the Tang Wing, calling it “extraordinarily inspired, deeply thoughtful, and dynamic.” He emphasized that her elegant and contemporary approach not only showcases her understanding of architectural history, materiality, and artistic expression but also aligns with the museum’s mission, collection, and visitors.
Escobedo’s redesign of the Met’s modern and contemporary art wing, located in the southwest corner of the museum’s Central Park complex, won’t expand the museum’s overall size. However, it will significantly increase the exhibition space by nearly 50%, bringing the total gallery area to approximately 71,000 square feet.
The design of the new wing features a stepped, angular structure with a façade of limestone latticework, which the architect’s studio describes as reminiscent of the “celosía,” a traditional Mexican breeze wall with deep roots in Spanish, Middle Eastern, and African architectural traditions. Additionally, the design includes 18,500 square feet of outdoor terraces located on the fourth and fifth floors of the wing.
According to a representative from Escobedo’s studio, the wing will consist of a three-story base with recessed fourth and fifth floors. The fourth floor will include a mix of exhibition galleries and a terrace, which will showcase commissioned contemporary artworks, complementing the existing rooftop terrace. The fifth floor will feature temporary exhibitions, another landscaped terrace, and spaces for reflection and community gatherings, offering stunning views of Central Park and New York City.
By May of this year, the Met had raised $550 million in private donations for the project. In addition to Frida Escobedo’s firm, the project team includes Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners as the executive architecture firm, Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects, and engineering firms Kohler Ronan and Thornton Tomasetti. The building will incorporate several sustainable features, including controlled daylight, on-site stormwater retention, a green roof, and enhanced thermal performance. It aims to achieve LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.
Artist and Met trustee Jordan Casteel expressed her excitement about the project, stating, “The Met has long been a source of inspiration for artists like me, and Frida Escobedo beautifully carries on that legacy with her brilliant design, which draws inspiration from the museum’s collection and architecture. I’m eager to see the transformed wing come to life, offering a platform for diverse artistic voices and perspectives to be recognized and celebrated.”
While the Tang Wing project is the largest, it is not the only major capital project underway at the Met’s Central Park campus. The museum is also nearing the completion of a $70 million renovation of its Michael C. Rockefeller Wing, which features galleries dedicated to African, ancient American, and Oceanic art.
Last year, the Met revealed plans to convert one of its major retail spaces into additional gallery space for the Costume Institute, known for its highly popular fashion exhibitions. Additionally, the museum recently completed a reinstallation of its American Wing to celebrate its centennial and opened a new interactive learning center.
