The Morgan Library, Facade Analysis

The Morgan Library and Museum began as the private library of financier Pierpont Morgan of J.P. Morgan & Co. It houses a collection of illuminated, literary, and historical manuscripts, early printed books, old master drawings, prints, etc. The building complex is composed of three historical buildings and the addition designed by Renzo Piano Building Workshop (2006). The expansion in 2006 added more than fifty percent of exhibition space and various amenities including a performance hall, an extrance on Madison Avenue, a cafe, a restaurant, a shop, a reading room, and collections storage. The new design integrates the three historical buildings with three intimately scaled pavilions to create an accessible and inviting setting. In studying the Morgan library addition, project was focused on understanding the systemic tectonic logics, culminating in a 1:10 scale model of a façade fragment. The project looked in detail at the structure and façade assemblies, studying how the material assembly informed programmatic organizations and spatial qualities.