The Morgan Library & Museum, New York

Renovation, transformation and extension of historically landmarked buildings – dating from the late 19th and early 20th Centuries – containing a 300-seat auditorium, as well as exhibition and library spaces. Listed buildings.

Information Sheet

New Build   Renovation/Transformation The Morgan Library & Museum   www.themorgan.org

Location New York, USA. Listed buildings.

Project Cost $70 million (approx. 52 million € according to the opening year's conversion rate).

Time Frame Start of design: 2001. Opening of the renovated and enlarged facility including the new auditoriums: May 2006.

Owner Pierpont Morgan Library.

Architect(s) Renzo Piano Building Workshop, Genoa/Paris   www.rpbw.com

Theatre Planner(s) David Harvey, Harvey Marshall Berling Associates, New York   hmb-a.com

Seat Count 300-seat auditorium, exhibition spaces, public piazza, reading rooms and offices. Total area 8 000 m².

Uses Auditorium: concerts, recitals, projections, conferences. Public Piazza: opening receptions, conferences and lectures, café. Exhibitions and reading rooms.

Services Basic and acoustical concept; acoustical and theatre planning consulting throughout the project. Close collaboration with the architect for the new auditorium design.

Team Eckhard Kahle, Kahle Acoustics. In collaboration with David Harvey, Harvey Marshall Berling Associates, New York (for audiovisual and theatre equipment design).

01/10The Morgan Library & MuseumRehearsal in the 300-seat auditorium. Photo © Kahle Acoustics
02/10The Morgan Library & MuseumEckhard Kahle in the 300-seat auditorium. Photo © Kahle Acoustics
03/10The Morgan Library & MuseumAuditorium. Curved acoustic reflection panels on the celling. Photo © Kahle Acoustics
04/10The Morgan Library & MuseumAuditorium. One of the technical galleries as seen from stage. Photo © Kahle Acoustics
05/10The Morgan Library & MuseumAcoustic panels detail. Photo © Kahle Acoustics
06/10The Morgan Library & MuseumReading room, before installation of the furniture. Photo © Kahle Acoustics
07/10The Morgan Library & MuseumThe Morgan Library offices open out onto the central piazza. Photo © Kahle Acoustics
08/10The Morgan Library & MuseumOpening event in May 2006 in the central piazza of The Morgan Library & Museum. Located at the heart of the building, between the museum spaces, the library, the auditorium and the offices, the piazza can serve as a conference and concert space, and as a restaurant. Photo © Kahle Acoustics
09/10The Morgan Library & MuseumOpening event in May 2006 in the central piazza of The Morgan Library & Museum. Photo © Kahle Acoustics
10/10The Morgan Library & MuseumThe Morgan Library & Museum, Madison Avenue, New York. Photo © The Morgan Library & Museum