The Met unveils plans for new Frida Escobedo–designed modern and contemporary art wing.
Exterior rendering of The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Tang Wing (view from the southwest corner). © Filippo Bolognese Images. Courtesy of Frida Escobedo Studio
The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met) has unveiled plans for its new modern and contemporary art galleries,e designed by Mexican architect Frida Escobedo, who is the first woman to design a wing at the museum. The $550 million initiative is named the Oscar L. Tang and H.M. Agnes Hsu-Tang Wing in honor of the couple who contributed $125 million to the project. Construction is slated to begin in 2026 and finish by 2030.
The newly designed, five-story modern and contemporary art wing is planned to fit within The Met’s existing 123,000-square-foot architectural footprint and to preserve the building’s historical aesthetic. The expansion itself encompasses 126,000 square feet, effectively increasing the Museum’s capacity to showcase 20th- and 21st-century art by nearly 50%. This enhancement will provide approximately 70,000 square feet of additional exhibition space. The design includes 18,500 square feet of outdoor terraces on the fourth and fifth floors.
Interior rendering of The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Tang Wing. © Filippo Bolognese Images. Courtesy of Frida Escobedo Studio.
“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,” said Max Hollein, The Met’s Marina Kellen French director and chief executive officer. “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.”
Inside, the wing will have flexible gallery spaces designed for a variety of art installations. These rooms will be equipped with advanced lighting systems and varying ceiling heights—ranging from 11 to 22 feet tall—to accommodate large and small works. The fifth floor will include galleries and a 1,000-square-foot café.
Rendering of The Metropolitan Museum of Art from aerial view featuring the Tang Wing at the southeast corner. © Filippo Bolognese Images. Courtesy of Frida Escobedo Studio.
The façade features limestone latticework that, according to the architect’s studio, evokes the “celosía”—a traditional Mexican breeze wall with roots in Spanish, Middle Eastern, and African architecture. Meanwhile, the carefully designed façade and strategic window arrangement in the new wing, together with an underground mechanical area, will minimize solar heat gain while optimizing natural light in the galleries, supporting The Met’s sustainability objectives.
The Met will also incorporate eco-friendly features such as controlled daylight use, a green roof, and on-site stormwater management to minimize environmental impact. Meanwhile, it plans to improve its adjacent green spaces, working closely with the Central Park Conservancy and New York City Department of Parks and Recreation.
Alongside Escobedo, the project team includes executive architects Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners, landscape architects Nelson Byrd Woltz, and engineering firms Kohler Ronan and Thornton Tomasetti, all committed to sustainable and innovative design.
