The Met Breaks Ground on $670M Tang Wing for Modern and Contemporary Art

• The Metropolitan Museum of Art has broken ground on the 126,000-square-foot Oscar L. Tang and H.M. Agnes Hsu-Tang Wing on Manhattan's Upper East Side.
• The project will add nearly 70,000 square feet of exhibition space, increasing the museum's modern and contemporary gallery space by nearly 50%.
• The Met has raised $670 million to cover construction and a significant portion of a new operating endowment, with the wing scheduled to open in 2030.

What The Met Is Building

The Metropolitan Museum of Art has officially broken ground on its new Oscar L. Tang and H.M. Agnes Hsu-Tang Wing, replacing the aging modern and contemporary art wing at its Fifth Avenue campus. Designed by Frida Escobedo Studio with Beyer Blinder Belle as executive architect, the five-story addition will remain within the existing building footprint. The project is part of The Met's broader effort to modernize its Upper East Side campus while creating more space for its 20th- and 21st-century collection. The Met said the new wing will open in 2030.

 

 

 

 

What The 126,000-Square-Foot Wing Will Include

The project will contain approximately 69,500 square feet of exhibition space, representing a nearly 50% increase over the museum's existing modern and contemporary gallery space. Galleries will have ceiling heights ranging from 11 to 22 feet, allowing the museum to accommodate everything from traditional works to large-scale installations. The fifth floor will feature a 1,000-square-foot café, while the fourth and fifth floors will provide approximately 18,500 square feet of outdoor terraces with views toward Central Park and Midtown. The expanded Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Roof Garden will also move into the new wing, giving visitors year-round access to outdoor space.

 

 

What Frida Escobedo Is Designing

Escobedo becomes the first woman to design a wing in The Met's 156-year history. Her design uses a stepped five-story profile, with a three-story base, recessed fourth floor and setback fifth floor. The exterior will feature a limestone celosía, or architectural lattice screen, designed to filter sunlight while reducing solar heat gain. Large windows will bring natural light into the galleries while also framing Central Park and the Manhattan skyline.

Escobedo said the design “weaves together the many architectural styles that make up The Met’s campus” while creating a contemporary addition to the museum.

 

 

What The Project Means For Construction And Real Estate

The Tang Wing is not a conventional ground-up development because it is being constructed within The Met's existing footprint. Still, the project represents a significant institutional construction program on the Upper East Side and is expected to generate substantial work across architecture, engineering, construction and specialty trades. The design and engineering team includes Frida Escobedo Studio, Beyer Blinder Belle, Kohler Ronan and Thornton Tomasetti. Landscaping is being developed by the Central Park Conservancy in coordination with the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation and The Met. The project also targets significant energy reductions through its façade design, window placement and below-ground mechanical systems. New accessible ramps, entry points and a second elevator core will improve circulation throughout the museum.

 

 

What The $670M Funding Covers

The Met has raised $670 million for the project, covering the full construction cost along with a significant portion of a newly established endowment to operate the wing. The museum previously announced a $125 million lead gift from Oscar L. Tang and H.M. Agnes Hsu-Tang, whose names now headline the project. Max Hollein, The Met's director and CEO, said the new wing will “transform how we present 20th- and 21st-century art” while connecting the collection more closely with the museum's broader holdings. Construction is now underway, with the Tang Wing scheduled to open in 2030.