A sleek exterior, added gallery spaces, a revamped lobby, and greater public access in the heart of midtown Manhattan make up the new Museum of Modern Art Expansion.
Atelier Ten’s studies through the design and construction phases advanced the design through a detailed analysis of site and landscape connectivity, water conservation, energy conservation, desired environment for art preservation, material, and indoor environmental quality. The design is enhanced through the combination of an optimized building envelope, efficient lighting design, and a low energy conditioning system that responds to the variable occupancy of the museum throughout the day.
The materials used throughout the building are low-emitting to reduce VOCs in the indoor air. CO2 sensors further improve the indoor air quality of the museum by increasing ventilation when occupancy grows. As a result, the expansion project is designed to reduce annual energy cost by 48% over the ASHRAE 90.1-2007 baseline. The sampling of air quality via the indoor air monitoring system allows the Museum’s Building Operations and Conservation teams to closely watch the levels of CO2, VOCs and other indoor contaminants.