Renderings from Robert A.M. Stern Architects are the first to reveal expanded programming and exhibition space at the New-York Historical Society Building on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. Located at 170 Central Park West, the spaces will be housed in a new wing of the building along West 76th Street. The façade will incorporate granite sourced from the same quarry in Deer Isle, Maine used in the society’s existing building more than 100 years ago, creating a seamless exterior appearance.
Valued at $140 million, the project will add more than 70,000 square feet of space to the landmark building, including a home for the American LGBTQ+ Museum. The museum will be located on the top floor and will tell the story of the LBGTQ+ community’s fight for acceptance and recognition in the United States.
The project will also create a new concourse showcasing a collection of toys and trains, a grand stairwell with plaques to recognize private and institutional donors, and the Klingenstein Exhibition Hall featuring Picasso’s “Le Tricorne” ballet curtain.
In a recent announcement, New York senator Chuck Schumer promised a $3 million federal grant to support New-York Historical Society’s expansion.
“This funding will help with the construction of our new wing, which includes, on its top floor, a gallery dedicated to telling the history of the American LGBTQ+ community,” said Louise Mirrer, Ph.D, president and CEO of the New-York Historical Society. “We are deeply grateful to senator Schumer, who has steadfastly supported the partnership between New-York Historical and the American LGBTQ+ Museum, and to congressman Jerry Nadler for his support, as well.”
Rendering of the American LGBTQ+ Museum at the New-York Historical Society
Rendering of Klingenstein Exhibition Hall at the New-York Historical Society
Rendering of the Jerni Collection of Toys and Trains at the New-York Historical Society
Rendering of new exhibition space at the New-York Historical Society
In addition to new gallery and exhibition space, the project will create storage areas for the Patricia D. Klingenstein Library, an outdoor sculpture garden, a roof-level terrace on the fifth floor, and conservation labs for experts to handle and restore historic artifacts. New education space in the Tang Academy for American Democracy and the Dorothy Tapper Goldman Center for Teaching Democracy will expand the number of students served each year from 3,000 to 30,000 children and adults.
Construction broke ground in September 2021 and is expected to be completed by 2026.
Rendering of the new rooftop terrace at the New-York Historical Society
Rendering of the Grand Staircase at the New-York Historical Society
Rendering of the Dorothy Tapper Goldman Center for Teaching Democracy at the New-York Historical Society
Rendering of the Tang Academy for American Democracy at the New-York Historical Society
Subscribe to YIMBY’s daily e-mail
Follow YIMBYgram for real-time photo updates
Like YIMBY on Facebook
Follow YIMBY’s Twitter for the latest in YIMBYnews
Is this next to the Natural History Museum?
Block south
The grand stairway looks very much like that at the Met Museum.
A couple of years ago, I had recommended to visiting friends that they visit NYHS. Anxious to view the Hudson River School works, they were told that these were temporarily unviewable (i.e., removed) in favor of a large “Harry Potter” exhibit. NYHS continues to veer and pander, less and less about NY history, more and more akin to a Times Square tourist trap.
Agree. Huge waste of “Federal” tax dollars for what is a “city” museum. This should be privately funded, or funded by NYC tax payers only!