The Reconstruction of the Met Rooftop
The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s roof has long connected the rotating art installations with its sweeping views of Central Park and the Manhattan skyline, offering drinks, light snacks, keeping visitors engaged, and returning for another season!
However, the Met website announced a five year closing of the roof due to “the construction of a new five-story wing, designed by Mexican architect Frida Escobedo.” Escobedo’s 2030 reopening of the Oscar L. Tang and H.M. Agnes Hsu-Tang Wing, commonly referred to as the Tang Wing, is dedicated to modern and contemporary art. Notably, this is the first time in the 154-year history of the MET that a woman is leading the design of a major wing.
What should we expect? The Tang Wing will increase gallery space by 50% and will add more than 70,000 square feet. The new design plan, emphasizes light and fluidity, aiming to improve accessibility, spatial limitations, and better support for our environment.
Escebos’ design will smooth transitions between galleries, improve mechanical systems and employ sustainable practices such as reducing solar gain and improving energy efficiency. According to the Director of Environmental Stewardship, Ms. Constanzo, this is not just a smart architectural choice but also a cultural responsibility. “Museums are incredibly visible,” she explains. Moreover, she says “they have massive endowments, and that’s a way to filter those funds into projects that are meaningful. When it’s a sustainable feature, that’s a no-brainer.” She noted that large institutions and tourist attractions like the Met have great influence and visibility which gives them the opportunity to set an example for other institutions to follow. “If it doesn’t set a precedent, it just means folks aren’t paying attention,” Ms. Constanzo adds. “New York has so many museums, and there has to be some kind of common culture among them. This might encourage others to do the same.”
The Met rooftop has a special place in the hearts of many New Yorkers. One New Yorker in particular, Riverdale Visual Art teacher, Ms. Betsy Fields, says, “It’s a beautiful place to go and view the park and the skyline, and enjoy site-specific art.”
During our visit to the museum, we spoke with a docent who believes “the rooftop is more than a vantage point, but a symbol of experience at the museum.” Although the upcoming closing feels somber, the new plans for the roof will make what once felt like an architectural afterthought much more intriguing. Because of the closure, you might ask, Will this affect attendance at the Met? One docent at the Met believes that it will not because “that’s not always why people come here.”
The current Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Roof Garden will be relocated, expanded by 7,500-10,000 square feet, and moved to the fourth floor terrace. Because views are integral to the new design, the rooftop vantage points, loved by visitors, will be available year-round, unlike the current seasonal system.
Ultimately, the reconstruction of the Tang Wing will enhance the Met’s environmental impact, and hopefully inspire other institutions and individuals to improve theirs as well. Ms. Constanzo optimistically concludes: “It’ll be interesting to see how they roll it out and how they encourage visitors to notice those transformations. Some people might go there just for the view, while others might go specifically because it’s sustainable.”
