OMA's new museum expansion completes in NYC as space for 'new humans'

"It's a new New Museum composed of two distinct yet highly connected buildings, independent but in constant dialogue. Rather than merging into a single form, the two volumes maintain their independence, as OMA's folding facade contrasts with the familiar stacking boxes of the original building."

"At street level, the expansion reshapes the presence of the New Museum on the Bowery. The corner at Prince Street is carved into a public plaza, a gesture that shifts the institution from a destination into a place of encounter. This open threshold extends the museum into the rhythm of the neighborhood."

"Museums today are among the last truly public spaces in the city. Thus, they must support gathering, participation, and dialogue while remaining open to change."

The New Museum in New York City has completed its expansion designed by OMA under director Shohei Shigematsu. The new addition stands alongside the original SANNA-designed building that opened in 2007, forming two independent yet highly connected volumes. Rather than merging into one form, the structures maintain their distinct identities, with OMA's folding facade contrasting the original stacking boxes. At street level, the expansion creates a public plaza at the Prince Street corner, transforming the museum from a destination into a gathering place. The facade reveals interior activities through angled openings and translucent surfaces, emitting a soft glow at night. The expansion aligns its program with the existing building, stacking galleries and educational spaces while supporting public engagement and dialogue.

Read at designboom | architecture & design magazine