The New York Historical
New York’s first museum, The New York Historical is a leading cultural institution documenting over 400 years of American history.
DeSimone provided structural engineering services for the five-story “Democracy Wing” expansion at 170 Central Park West. The 70,000 SF addition will introduce new galleries, classrooms, a conservation studio, expanded library storage, rooftop terraces, and the future home of the American LGBTQ+ Museum.
| Client | New-York Historical Society |
|---|---|
| Architect: | Robert A.M. Stern Architects (RAMSA) |
| Size | 5 stories | 70,000 SF (6,503 SM) |
| Sustainability | Targeting LEED Silver certification |
| Office: | New York |
| Completion: | 2026 |
Connecting the new annex to the existing landmarked building required careful structural intervention. We designed a major transfer beam at ground level to support the building while crews demolished part of the existing cellar foundation and buttress. In addition, a single column slated to remain was temporarily jacked to relieve its load while a new support system was installed.
Within the West Collection Stacks, we engineered a new steel diaphragm and transfer floor to accommodate higher ceiling heights and open gallery space. Loads from upper-level posts were redirected through new framing to existing foundations, allowing the lower floors to be demolished and rebuilt on a new ground-level slab aligned with the rest of the museum.
Targeting LEED Silver, the expansion uses granite sourced from the same Maine quarry as the original 1908 façade, reinforcing both sustainability and continuity. Topped out in 2025 and targeting completion in early 2026, the project coincides with the nation’s 250th anniversary.
