The Metropolitan Museum of Art today unveiled the design by architect Frida Escobedo for the Oscar L. Tang and H.M. Agnes Hsu-Tang Wing that will create a dynamic new home for The Met’s renowned collection of 20th- and 21st-century art. Escobedo is the first woman to design a wing in the Museum’s 154-year history, and the historic project will increase the current gallery space in the wing by nearly 50 percent, creating more than 70,000 square feet for the display of modern and contemporary art, while addressing accessibility, infrastructure, and sustainability needs across all floors and providing a wing that seamlessly connects with the rest of the Museum. Drawing inspiration from The Met’s varied architectural styles, diverse art holdings, and setting within Central Park, the Tang Wing will add to the Museum’s rich history of advancing thoughtful, bold, and visionary architecture that is itself a work of art.
The reimagined five-story wing will remain within the existing 123,000-square-foot building’s footprint and be no higher than the original height of the 1880 wing at the center of the Museum complex. Set to open in 2030, the 126,000-square-foot wing is expected to create 4,000 union jobs through its construction, and the project is targeting 30–40 percent participation by Minority- and Women-owned Business Enterprises. The design and engineering team consists of lead design architect Frida Escobedo Studio, executive architect Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners LLC, Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects, and engineering firms Kohler Ronan and Thornton Tomasetti.
In May 2024, the Museum announced a fundraising milestone of $550 million in private donations for the wing, demonstrating the extraordinary local, national, and international support for the project from both new and longtime trustees and donors.
“The Metropolitan Museum of Art is one of the crown jewels of New York City, an iconic cultural landmark representing New Yorkers to the rest of the world,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “By showcasing works of art created by new and established artists from all walks of life, the Tang Wing is a bold endeavor to expand our understanding of the role of art in New York’s culture and our society.”
“We are pleased to see this important project moving forward. This historic design by Frida Escobedo and commitment to accessibility in the new wing reflect the diversity and ambition of our city and will be beautifully integrated thanks to our partners at the Central Park Conservancy’s work on the surrounding landscape,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue. “We congratulate The Met on this milestone, and we look forward to continuing to work with them and our partners across city government to further enhance this world-class destination for visitors of all backgrounds.”
