MoMA's Renovations Just Got 28k SF Bigger, Building Permits Say
The NYC Department of Buildings issued a building permit to the Museum of Modern Art this week for 78k SF of additional gallery space. Expected to cost $93M, the addition will be handled by Peter Thiesz’s Turner Construction.
MoMA has requested 16 building permits since March, according to Buildzoom, as part of the museum’s multi-phased mission to create a “more open, accessible, and engaging experience” and house many of the new works the museum has acquired from famous artists like Steve McQueen and Frank Lloyd Wright.
Designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro and Gensler, the renovations were initially revealed two years ago, invoking some controversy for planning to demolish the American Folk Art Museum building.
Two additional sites, totaling 50k SF, would be added to the museum’s west end, increasing the museum’s overall gallery space by 30% and bringing the total square footage to 744k SF. Considering plans were cut back in size earlier this year, it’s unknown why the size has been bumped on the permits.
The museum has renovated its east end public spaces, extended the Bauhaus staircase from the second floor to the main floor, developed a new lounge open to The Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Sculpture Garden, added a coat check on the ground floor and reconfigured several third floor galleries into temporary exhibition spaces.
The total renovations are expected to cost $400M and finish in 2020.
