The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing at The Metropolitan Museum of Art

WHY was commissioned to undergo a complete conceptual and physical redesign of the galleries which house the museum’s collection of the Arts of Africa, Oceania, and The Americas. Since the Rockefeller Wing was first inaugurated in the 1980s, the collection has more than doubled in size while practices of art history and curation have changed radically. WHY’s concept for the spaces honors the autonomy of the hundreds of distinct cultures represented in the galleries. The design process, that was guided by close collaboration with curators and stakeholders, has resulted in cohesive displays that embrace cultural difference.

Key info
Design Architect
Executed by Workshop HY Architecture & Design DPC
Location
New York, NY
Year
  • 2018 - 2025
Size
  • 40,000 sf
Role
Design Architect and Exhibition Design
Selected Press
REASSESSING ART HISTORY

The redesigned spaces carefully reassess the relationship between vastly different world traditions and geographies. The installations amplify an understanding of historical and cultural context, highlight the provenance of specific artifacts, and provide greater clarity and accessibility to visitors. This project is informed by extensive archival and field research, as well as sensitive engagement with representatives from the living cultures represented in the galleries.

NEW VISUAL AND SPATIAL RELATIONSHIPS

As part of the comprehensive reimagining of the spaces, the project features all new casework and displays, updated interior finishes, and infrastructural improvements. New wayfinding and circulation strategies encourage curiosity as visitors make their way through the galleries while strong sightlines create connections between adjacent spaces and artworks. A defining element of the Rockefeller Wing is the glass curtain wall to the south of the galleries that WHY has redesigned in collaboration with Beyer Blinder Belle to meet conservation requirements and allow for greater integration with the park beyond. Throughout, the design is informed by a need for enhanced clarity and contextualization. WHY remains committed to elevating the standards for a more critical and culturally sensitive approach to museum design.

“In Akan culture, the term Sankofa refers to a quest for knowledge, visualized as a bird with feet planted forward and head turned backward. Likewise, this project involves a critical examination of the past as a guide for renewal.”

The AAOA Curatorial Team
Team
Architect
  • WHY
Collaborators
Architect of Record
  • Beyer Blinder Belle
Structural Engineer
  • Thornton Tomasetti
MEP Engineer
  • Kohler Ronan
Facade Engineer
  • Arup
Lighting Design
  • Arup
Casework Fabrication
  • Goppion
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