Cooper Hewitt

New York, NY

As part of a Task Order Contract for the Smithsonian Institution, EE&K Architects has performed a variety of tasks for the Cooper Hewitt National Museum of Design. Noted architects, Babb, Cook & Willard, designed the mansion in 1901 for steel magnate, Andrew Carnegie. EE&K Architects performed a conditions survey of the exterior masonry to evaluate the extent of deterioration during the museum’s 25-year tenancy. The survey included all elements on the property including an analysis of the existing mounting methods securing the original century old Wisteria vine at the south façade. The monumental wrought and cast iron fence was also surveyed and documented. At present EE&K Architects is preparing construction documents for repair and restoration of deteriorated conditions documented in the report.

In addition to the exterior scope of work, EE&K Architects is preparing a design to renovate a portion of the museum’s first floor interior in order to improve the aesthetics and configuration of the conference room, bathrooms and public gathering spaces.

Under a task order contract with the Smithsonian Institution, Ehrenkrantz Eckstut & Kuhn Architects provided design services to the Cooper Hewitt Museum designed by Babb, Cook and Willard in 1902. The Andrew Carnegie Mansion’s Music Room was transformed into a state-of-the-art gallery housing a rotating exhibit of the museum’s permanent collections. Work included restoring and cleaning the original decorative plaster ceiling; restoring historic boiserie paneling and repainting it in more historically accurate colors; and installing an innovative cable lighting system that preserved the integrity of the room while providing flexible exhibit illumination. The entire task was performed in one month, and met budget and schedule requirements.