The Frick Collection in New York City is completing its first major renovation and expansion since opening to the public as a museum in 1935. Designed by Selldorf Architects in collaboration with Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners, the project provides unprecedented access to the original 1914 home of Henry Clay Frick, enhances the visitor experience with new galleries, amenities, and ADA access and restores the 70th Street Garden. Conceived to address pressing institutional and programmatic needs, the plan creates critical new resources for permanent collection display, special exhibitions, conservation, education, and public programs, while upgrading visitor amenities and overall accessibility.
Designated as a New York City landmark, the project’s design underwent a robust public approvals process and started construction in 2021. One of the key challenges of the design was to maintain the original intimate and domestic character of the visitor experience while introducing critical infrastructure and space for enhanced and new programs. Faced with a very tight site on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, new construction had to be strategic and almost surgical, including below-grade excavation and reorganization of existing space.
Learning Objectives
- Understand design strategies for contextual expansion and interventions that balance institutional identity with future growth.
- Describe ways in which historic buildings can be upgraded to be more accessible, welcoming and sustainable.
- Demonstrate how contemporary technology can be utilized to assist in design and construction for the modernization of early 20th century historic buildings.
- Identify contingencies to consider and plan for relating to budget, schedule, program, and technical feasibility, when undertaking an ambitious project in an historic structure.
