Culture Chronicle

Grand Designs for the Future
The Wall Street Journal - July 12, 2010
By Lauren Fedor

The office of Bill Moggridge, the recently appointed director of Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum, is, not surprisingly, furnished with pieces by some of the biggest names in contemporary design. His airy room on the second floor of Andrew Carnegie's former mansion on East 91st Street features an Eames sofa and chairs from Mario Bellini. The easel he uses for brainstorming sessions is by Herman Miller.

But Mr. Moggridge won't be in his new office for long. Beginning next summer, Cooper-Hewitt's main building will close its doors for two years as a part of an ongoing $54 million renovation that will add 6,000 square feet of galleries--an almost 60% increase in the museum's exhibition space. As part of the remodeling, Mr. Moggridge's current office will become a gallery. The mansion's third floor, previously home to the National Design Library and Cooper-Hewitt's administrative offices, will also be converted into exhibition space.

Said Caroline Baumann, Cooper-Hewitt's associate director: "People don't realize the breadth of our collection."

In March--just days before Mr. Moggridge took over as the museum's director--Cooper-Hewitt began work on two East 90th Street townhouses that are part of the institution's Museum Mile campus. When renovations are complete, they will house the museum's administrative offices, as well as a new National Design Library and the museum's Master of Arts program, offered jointly with Parsons The New School for Design. For the full article, click here