In 2008, the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum (formerly the Cooper Hewitt, National Design Museum) embarked on a sweeping renovation of its home -- New York City’s landmark Andrew Carnegie Mansion. Founded in 1896, the museum has been housed in the massive Georgian structure, brimming with wood-paneled walls, stained glass, and carved ceilings, since 1976. Dedicated to historic and contemporary design, the institution hoped to create a space that better communicated its devotion to design evolution.
On December 12, following a three-year closure, the Cooper Hewitt will unveil its renovated and redesigned home to the public. The project, which cost approximately $91 million to complete, added sixty-percent more exhibition space, allowing the institution to present more of its monumental collection and temporary exhibitions. The revamped space also includes a new shop, casework, and movable displays designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro, a new public staircase, a new freight elevator, and a redesigned outdoor garden by Hood Design.
