The Metropolitan Museum of Art, European Paintings Skylights Project

Constructed between 1880 and 1894, Wings A, B, and C are the oldest parts of The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s building on Fifth Avenue. The European Paintings galleries have been located on the second floor of these wings since the nineteenth century. In 2015 The Met engaged BBB to design a project to replace the skylights with a technologically advanced glazing system that could better address the issues of sunlight control, thermal efficiency, system longevity, and condensation prevention. In addition to replacing 30,000 SF of skylights, the project also replaces other critical infrastructure: the aging HVAC system serving the galleries, the interior louvers for sun control, and the glass ceiling panels which admit diffused light into each gallery. Extensive roofing, gutter, and masonry repairs were included as well.

The project was approved by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission in 2017, and the galleries were closed to make way for construction in 2018. The skylight replacement commenced in two phases. The northern galleries were completed and reopened to the public in 2020, and the remaining galleries on the south side were completed in 2023. The results are a thermally efficient and reliable glass roof that provides subtly improved, even, and diffuse natural daylight in the galleries, enabling The Met to safeguard and display the collection well into the future.

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