Re-Designing a Design Museum

July 31, 2014
Credit: John Bartelstone

After three years of closure, the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum announced it will reopen on December 12, 2014. BBB has been privileged to be involved in the institution’s redesign, from planning through restoration and reconstruction, transforming the turn-of-the-century mansion into an expanded and enhanced contemporary museum facility.

Originally built as Andrew Carnegie’s residence, the nationally-landmarked building has been completely restored and updated with new mechanical, electrical, fire and life-safety-systems, as well as ADA accessible routes, all carefully inserted as unobtrusively as possible. The interiors have been reprogrammed – allowing for a 60-percent increase in gallery space – and new technologies incorporated throughout will facilitate greater visitor interaction with the collection.

Read the full chronicle of the Cooper Hewitt renovation on NYTimes.com