J. Pierpont Morgan’s Library, which is at is the heart of the Morgan Library & Museum, is to undergo a four-year renovation project at a cost of $12.5m (€11m). A museum and independent research library located in the heart of New York City, it began as the personal library of financier John Pierpont Morgan. The restoration marks the first preservation of the landmark library’s exterior in its 112-year history. On-site work commences this month directed by Sciame and executed by Nicholson & Galloway, longtime partners in the architectural expansion and stewardship of the Morgan.
The Morgan Library & Museum is undergoing a four-year renovation. Image: JamesLeynse/Corbis via Getty Image
Commissioned in 1902 by Morgan and completed in 1906, the library is considered to be one of McKim, Mead & White’s finest works and a remarkable example of Neoclassical architecture. Morgan was a voracious collector who bought on an astonishing scale, collecting art objects in virtually every medium. In 1924, his son, J. P. Morgan, Jr. gave his father’s library to the public, and its collection of manuscripts, rare books, music, drawings, and works of art comprise a unique and dynamic record of civilisation.
The Librarian’s Office of the Morgan Library & Museum in New York. Image: Xinhua/Li Muzi via Getty Images
The renovation will also enhance the surrounding grounds, improve the exterior lighting of the building, and increase public access to this historic architectural treasure. It will address issues like masonry deterioration, masonry joint failure, roof conditions, deterioration of the fence and other metalwork corrosion, and sculpture conservation. The currently minimal exterior lighting will be improved by enhancing existing light emanating from the interior, using historic fixtures coupled with new technologies.
The interior of the McKim Building in the Pierpont Morgan Library. Image: Jeffrey Greenberg/UIG via Getty Images
The landscaping comprises a simple lawn and trees at present and does little to complement the architecture of the Library, nor does it provide accessible pathways or spaces to encourage visitor interaction with the landmark building’s exterior. Todd Longstaffe-Gowan Landscape Design has been engaged to develop designs to address these issues. The library will still open to visitors during the restoration process, and the new look will be unveiled to the public in fall 2020. The unveiling will be accompanied by an exhibition chronicling the history of the Library. For further information, see the Morgan Library & Museum’s website here.
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