The beauty of smart building upgrades will be on full display at one of the world’s largest and most famous art museums.
Officials from the New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS), the New York Power Authority (NYPA), and The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met) announced a nearly $25 million energy efficiency project to equip the museum with state-of-the-art sustainable lighting technologies.
The project entails the installation of nearly 20,000 LED lighting fixtures across 324 of the museum’s galleries and the replacement of 16 comprehensive lighting control systems, in service of The Met’s mission to present and preserve its massive collection of art. The initiative kicked off with a groundbreaking ceremony held at The Met’s 2000-year-old Temple of Dendur and is expected to be completed in 2028.
The new lighting system—which was developed in close collaboration with technical experts, lighting designers, curators, and conservators—will significantly improve the illumination and visual clarity of gallery exhibitions and help to preserve works on display through emitting less waste heat. Newly installed lighting controls will also enhance operational efficiency and flexibility through allowing The Met to remotely monitor, schedule, and control the gallery lighting.
The project is expected to reduce The Met’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by almost 2,000 MTCO2e, which is the equivalent of removing over 400 cars from the road. NYPA President and CEO Justin E. Driscoll said the upgrades will “significantly cut” the museum’s operating and maintenance costs.
Max Hollein, The Met’s Marina Kellen French Director and CEO, added the project supports the museum’s “commitment to sustainability and our mission to connect all people—including our millions of yearly visitors from across New York City and beyond—to creativity, knowledge, and ideas.”
The installation is one of the most complex energy efficiency projects ever led by DCAS, which oversees New York City’s efforts to reduce GHG emissions from government operations 50% by 2030, as mandated by the city’s landmark climate policy, Local Law 97 of 2019. The project advances one of the key tenants of DCAS’ strategy to curb GHG emissions through improving the energy efficiency and operations of key building systems. The project is fully funded through city capital funds managed by DCAS and will be overseen by the department’s team of in-house lighting experts in partnership with NYPA.
“Investing in energy efficiency is a critical part of our commitment to a more sustainable and resilient New York City, and this new effort at the famed Metropolitan Museum of Art is one for the ages,” said DCAS Commissioner Louis A. Molina.
DCAS and NYPA previously led energy upgrades at other New York City landmarks, including the Bronx Zoo, One World Trade Center, and dozens of NYPD facilities.