"The Studio Museum in Harlem experienced a brief "sprinkler emergency" at its gift shop on January 23, 2026. (all photo and video used with permission) Two months after its festive opening, the Adjaye Associates-designed Studio Museum in Harlem evacuated visitors from its gift shop following a messy "sprinkler emergency." A museum visitor who asked to remain anonymous told Hyperallergic that staff instructed guests to leave the museum this afternoon, January 23, as water poured from the ceiling near the gift shop."
"The New York City Fire Department (FDNY) responded to the incident. A spokesperson for the FDNY told Hyperallergic they received a call for a "sprinkler emergency" at 2:30 pm on Friday. The incident was resolved by 3 pm, the spokesperson said, and there were no injuries. Videos captured by bystanders show water raining steadily from the ceiling, including one containing light fixtures. "I hope nothing is damaging the artwork," one visitor is heard saying."
On January 23, 2026, the Studio Museum in Harlem experienced a sprinkler emergency at its gift shop two months after reopening. Staff instructed visitors to evacuate as water poured from the ceiling and formed a large pool near the entrance. The New York City Fire Department received a call at 2:30 pm, resolved the incident by 3:00 pm, and reported no injuries. Bystander videos show steady streams of water falling through light fixtures, and visitors expressed concern about potential damage to artwork. The museum had reopened on November 15 after a seven-year closure in a new 82,000-square-foot building designed by Adjaye Associates with Cooper Robertson, reportedly costing $160 million. Adjaye has denied 2023 misconduct allegations and stepped away from the project.
Read at Hyperallergic
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