Whitney Museum of American Art

Breuer Building

As the preeminent institution devoted to the art of the United States, the Whitney Museum of American Art presents the full range of twentieth-century and contemporary American art, with a special focus on works by living artists. The Whitney is dedicated to collecting, preserving, interpreting, and exhibiting American art, and its collection–arguably the finest holding of twentieth-century American art in the world–is the Museum’s key resource.

The Whitney embarked on a project to convert the top-floor of its iconic Breuer Building into the Museum’s permanent galleries, relocating its administrative offices from the main building into three interconnected brownstones. The program also included a new library facility and museum store, as well as upgrades to the mechanical, lighting and infrastructure systems.

Role + Responsibilities

Zubatkin was originally retained at the time of the architect selection and oversaw the planning, design, approvals, construction and occupancy of the project. The Zubatkin team provided leadership and expertise on the project phasing and logistics strategy, setting up an intensive multi-phase schedule for construction that allowed the Whitney to maintain its ongoing operations. The firm also managed the project budget and schedule, and provided technical input related to the overall scope and implementation strategy.

Zubatkin was also engaged by the Whitney to oversee other capital projects, including the recladding of the historic granite façade, a new cold storage collections facility, a new conservation studio and an off-site collections storage facility.

Related Projects

  • Client Whitney Museum of American Art
  • Location New York, NY
  • Size

    85,000 sf

  • Architect
    • Gluckman Mayner Architects
  • Construction Manager
    • AJ Contracting (Phase 1)
    • York Hunter Construction
    • (Phase 2)