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Landmarks approves Met Museum entrance restoration and rooftop chiller replacement
Summary
The commission approved two linked Metropolitan Museum projects: restoration of three historic entrance openings and bronze/glass infill to provide an accessible plaza‑level route to the Great Hall, and replacement of the north‑side chiller plant with more efficient equipment and screening; commissioners cited accessibility and energy savings.
The Landmarks Preservation Commission approved two coordinated projects at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on Dec. 17: reopening and restoring the three original doors at the 80 Third Street plaza elevation to provide a direct, accessible route to the Great Hall, and replacement of the North‑Side chiller plant and rooftop cooling towers with new, more efficient equipment and a painted aluminum louver screen set back from Fifth Avenue.
Brett Guard (head of capital planning at the Met) introduced the projects, which the museum framed as paired priorities for accessibility, energy efficiency and climate resiliency. Henry Miller and Michael Whetstone of Beyer Blinder Belle described restoring bronze door frames with clear glass transoms to match the materiality of the main entrance, and engineering and sight‑line constraints that dictated the chiller plant location and the height of the new cooling towers. Whetstone said the new plant is expected to cut electricity use by roughly 54% for the portions of the building it serves.
Public testimony was broadly supportive. Landmark West, the Historic Districts Council and neighborhood groups endorsed the accessible entrance and commended the museum’s resiliency focus. Commissioners also noted precedents for screening rooftop mechanical equipment and found the proposed louvers would be minimally visible from select down‑street viewpoints and seasonally concealed by trees.
The commission recorded approvals for both applications after discussion and staff findings that the work would not damage significant architectural features, would improve barrier‑free access and would be consistent with the landmarked character of the museum’s façades. The actions include staff review of the final signage, bronze finish and screening details before permits are issued.
Next steps: the Met will refine shop drawings and return required details to staff; the chiller‑plant replacement will proceed through permitting and scheduled installation subject to final coordination with engineering requirements.
