A Seamless Extension of Art, People, and City
Arup has played a key role in creating an integrated seamless extension to the New Museum’s existing SANAA-designed flagship building in New York City. The 60,000 square foot expansion, designed by OMA / Shohei Shigematsu and Rem Koolhaas, is a place where art, people, and the city intersect.
Arup’s Expertise in Structural and MEP Engineering
Arup provided structural, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing engineering (MEP), as well as fire protection systems engineering for the expansion project. The team’s expertise enabled the creation of a remarkable architectural vision, visible both inside and outside the building. A complex truss structure supports the façade and complex staircase, creating and a new clarity in the circulation for the museum.
“The design for the New Museum expansion showcases what can be achieved when architecture, structure and building systems are all thought about together from the very start of the concept design,” says Matt Jackson, Associate Principal and Project Director, Arup.
Innovative Design Solutions
Arup designed MEP systems across the joint buildings structure to achieve the greatest possible gallery width within a tight site. The team used the entire south wall for MEP distribution, concealing ducts into the wall thickness that roll out into the galleries between the primary beams. This created a streamlined ceiling layout, maximized clear height, and maintained a gallery width almost as wide as the building lot.
Arup also created a geometrically complex staircase that wraps behind the sloping façade of the new wing for an expansive vertical circulation. The team developed an intricate truss structure that both supports the stair and the sloping façade, as well as the careful integration of sprinklers and hydronic heating elements to service the stair and landings.
Fire Protection and Sustainability
For fire protection, Arup innovated a design that creates spaces behind the perforated ceiling for smoke and heat accumulation, enabling the stair to read as one continuous architectural element while adhering to the code requirement.
The New Museum expansion is a testament to Arup’s commitment to sustainable design and innovative solutions. The project showcases the possibilities of integrated design and collaboration, resulting in a truly unique and immersive experience for visitors.
