The New York Historical
New York City's first museum and one of the nation's leading cultural institutions, The New York Historical archives and documents more than 400 years of American history. DeSimone provided structural engineering services for the renovation of the landmarked 1908 main building and 1930s additions—as well as the creation of the new 70,000-square-foot Tang Wing for American Democracy.
The renovation and expansion connect the existing buildings to create open floor-to-floor transitions for enhanced visitor flow—and enhanced spatial efficiency—while introducing new galleries, classrooms, a conservation studio, archival and research spaces, a courtyard, rooftop terrace, the Academy for American Democracy for children, and the American LGBTQ+ Museum—the nation's first.
| Client | New York Historical Society |
|---|---|
| Architect: | Robert A.M. Stern Architects (RAMSA) |
| Size | New Wing: 5 stories | 71,000 SF (6,503 SM), Main Building and Wings: 3 stories; Library Stacks Tower: 11 Stories |
| Sustainability | Targeting LEED Silver certification |
| Office: | New York |
| Completion: | 2026 |
To create the expansive, column-free spaces envisioned for the new wing, DeSimone designed a long-span, composite steel and cast-in-place concrete structure that includes a 70-foot steel truss that supports a soaring, light-filled, and column-free exhibit space.
A key intervention created a new connection between the historic structure and the new wing at the cellar level. DeSimone designed a 34-foot transfer beam, temporarily jacking an existing column to lift it off a foundation wall and transfer its load to the new beam. This enabled the wall to be removed, creating a contiguous connection between the buildings while expanding space for education, research, and collections functions.
Within the existing 15-story library stacks tower, DeSimone introduced a transfer structure at the fifth floor and replaced the first-floor slab at a higher elevation to align with the new wing. The team also removed the second-, third-, and fourth-floor slabs to create a dramatic open gallery volume. Existing columns, spaced only four to five feet apart, were supported by multiple layers of new steel framing before being selectively cut and their loads transferred into the new structural system, creating expansive, open gallery space while preserving the now 11-story building above.
Targeting LEED Silver certification, the expansion incorporates Sherwood Pink Granite sourced from the same Deer Isle, Maine quarry used for the original 1908 façade to establish aesthetic continuity between the historic museum and its contemporary addition.
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