The Whitney Museum of American Art at Gansevoort
Opened in 2015, the new Whitney Museum of American Art transforms the visitor experience with expanded exhibition space and a comprehensive view of its modern and contemporary collection of over 19,000 works of art. Located in New York’s Meatpacking District near the High Line, the asymmetrical design integrates art, architecture, and urban landscape, creating a vibrant cultural destination that fosters public engagement and accessibility to American art.
A dynamic new home in the Meatpacking District
Previously housed in Marcel Breuer's 1966 building on Madison Avenue, the Whitney Museum now occupies a dynamic location in New York’s Meatpacking District. Facing Gansevoort Street, the museum sits between the Hudson River and the High Line, the city’s elevated urban park created on a former 1930s railroad spur.
The museum’s eight-story structure, clad in pale blue-grey steel, presents a striking asymmetrical design. Its west-facing side toward the Hudson is substantial and full-height, while lighter terraces and glass walkways cascade toward the High Line, integrating the park into the museum’s architecture.
A welcoming entrance and engaging public spaces
The museum entrance features a striking cantilevered "largo," a public space that acts as a transitional zone between the street and the museum, offering shared views of the Hudson and the nearby High Line. From this largo, visitors enter the main lobby, which doubles as a free-entry public gallery.
On the third floor, a 170-seat retractable theater provides double-height views of the Hudson River, alongside technical areas and administrative offices, enhancing both the museum’s functionality and visitor experience.
Expansive galleries and dynamic spaces for art and learning
The Whitney’s gallery space spans levels five through eight, with the fifth floor featuring an impressive 18,000-square-foot, column-free gallery—New York City’s largest open-plan museum gallery—dedicated to large-scale contemporary art exhibitions. The museum’s permanent collection is displayed on levels six and seven, which step back toward the west, creating 13,000 square feet of outdoor sculpture terraces.
Museum offices, an education center, conservation labs, and a library reading room occupy levels three through seven, along with a multi-use theater for film, video, and performances. The top floor hosts a “studio” gallery and a café, both illuminated by a distinctive saw-tooth skylight system.
Details on Foundation website
Project Details
Status
Client
Whitney Museum of American Art
Design
Renzo Piano Building Workshop in collaboration with Cooper Robertson (New York), architects
Design Team
M.Carroll and E.Trezzani (partners in charge) with K.Schorn, T.Stewart, S.Ishida (partner), A.Garritano, F.Giacobello, I.Guzman, G.Melinotov, L. Priano, L.Stuart and C. Chabaud, J.Jones, G.Fanara, M.Fleming, D.Piano, J.Pejkovic; M.Ottonello (CAD operator); F.Cappellini, F.Terranova, I.Corsaro (models)
Consultants
Robert Silman Associates (structure); Jaros, Baum & Bolles (MEP, fire prevention); Arup (lighting); Heintges & Associates (facade engineering); Phillip Habib & Associates (civil engineering); Theatre Projects (theatre equipment); Cerami & Associates (audiovisual equipment, acoustics); Piet Oudolf with Mathews Nielson (landscaping); Viridian Energy Environmental (LEED consultant)
Environmental Certifications
LEED Gold Certification (2016)
Construction Manager
Turner Construction
