E.W. Howell Completes Historical Renovation at Cooper-Hewitt Design Museum

As General Contractor, E.W. Howell worked with the Smithsonian Institution to restore the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum located in the Carnegie Hill Historic District on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Designed by Babb, Cook, and Willard in 1902, the museum occupies the former home of Andrew Carnegie on Fifth Avenue and 91st street and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The specific challenge was to improve a historic structure to provide a 21st century museum quality environment within an accessible, sustainable and safe building. After this renovation, the Mansion has significantly increased exhibition space and improved art path circulation, allowing for more than one major show to be staged at one time. New retail and café spaces, stairs and elevators further enhance the visitor experience. A multi-phase plan was developed to logistically implement the improvements, incorporating separate construction projects at the Mansion, the Townhouses and an off-site storage facility.

Awards: ENR NY Best of 2014: Cultural/Worship Category (Award of Merit)
Other Resources:
Cooper-Hewitt Goes from Dowdy to Digital via Architectural Record: bit.ly/15noRFm

Tour the Cooper Hewitt, Now Open After a $91M Overhaul – via curbed.com