New Museum reopens in New York with an expansion designed by OMA

After two years closed, the New Museum in New York reopens to the public with an expansion that repositions its architecture within the contemporary landscape. Designed by the firm OMA, led by Shohei Shigematsu and Rem Koolhaas, the new building adds about 60,000 square feet to the institution and nearly doubles its capacity, connecting to the iconic original volume designed by the Japanese firm SANAA in 2007.

(Jason Keen/Archdaily/CASACOR)

More than a mere increase in area, the project is structured as a direct response to the limitations of the existing building — especially with regard to circulation and the flexibility of the spaces. The expansion reorganizes internal circulation by adding new elevators, stairs, and vertical connections, creating a more intuitive and continuous route between floors.

(Jason O’Rear/Archdaily/CASACOR)

The new volume establishes a careful dialogue with the original architecture. While SANAA’s building is characterized by a composition of stacked, opaque boxes, OMA’s intervention adopts a more transparent, faceted language, with metal facades and glazed surfaces that reveal some of the activity inside. Even so, the strategy does not seek to overshadow the existing building, but to complement it.

(Jason O’Rear/Archdaily/CASACOR)

Integration between the two structures happens directly on several levels: three of the seven floors are interconnected, allowing spatial continuity between galleries and significantly expanding curatorial possibilities. Altogether, the museum now includes new exhibition spaces, studios for artists-in-residence, educational areas, and a forum with seating for 74.

(Jason O’Rear/Archdaily/CASACOR)

At ground level, the project also repositions the museum’s relationship with the city. The creation of an entry plaza and the expansion of the lobby make access more permeable and inviting, while the inclusion of a restaurant, an expanded bookstore, and gathering areas reinforces the building’s public character.

(Jason O’Rear/Archdaily/CASACOR)

Another highlight is the reconfiguration of iconic spaces, such as the Sky Room on the top floor, now enlarged, along with the introduction of terraces and open areas that connect the interior to the urban landscape of the Bowery.

(Jason O’Rear/Archdaily/CASACOR)

With about 120,000 square feet after the expansion, the New Museum now operates as a more complex and versatile infrastructure, capable of accommodating larger-scale exhibitions and hybrid programs spanning art, research, and experimentation.