Whitney Museum Opens in New Meatpacking District Building

The Whitney Museum of American Art opened its new building in New York's Meatpacking District on May 1, 2015. Designed by Renzo Piano, the 220,000-square-foot structure features 50,000 square feet of indoor gallery space and 13,000 square feet of outdoor exhibition areas. The move from its previous Upper East Side location, which had been its home since 1966, marks a significant expansion for the institution. For decades, the Whitney was considered the smallest among New York's major museums, while the Guggenheim expanded internationally and MoMA acquired prestigious real estate. The new building, situated at the southern end of the High Line, positions the museum within a rapidly developing cultural corridor.