The Metropolitan Museum of Art

New York, NY

Founded in 1870, The Metropolitan Museum of Art stands as a preeminent cultural institution, stewarding an unparalleled collection that spans over five millennia and encompasses artworks from every continent. Guided by a multiyear strategic framework that embeds sustainability as a core institutional imperative, The Met integrates rigorous commitments to reducing environmental impacts, fostering staff engagement in climate action, and cultivating partnerships that advance sector-wide sustainability initiatives.

Supported by a 2025 FCI Implementation Grant, The Met's Sustainable Strategies program employs whole-building calibrated simulations to precisely quantify reductions in energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions achievable by refining environmental parameters within galleries. This multiphase initiative, which aligns with authoritative conservation frameworks including the Bizot Green Protocol, recalibrates temperature and humidity setpoints across 116 air handling units and five central plants. Through data-driven HVAC adjustments and rigorous pilot studies verifying both energy savings and collection safety, The Met aims to substantially reduce its carbon footprint while safeguarding its collection. The outcomes will be integrated into its comprehensive Sustainability Strategy and disseminated broadly to inspire sustainable stewardship and climate-conscious practices throughout the museum field.

A 2026 FCI Scoping Grant will support drone-based infrared thermography surveys of the museum's extensive roof systems, with thermal data analysis to identify high-impact opportunities for improving building performance and reducing energy use. This targeted investigation builds on The Met's multiyear sustainability strategy, providing data-driven insights to guide future capital improvements and reduce thermal losses across the institution's expansive Fifth Avenue campus.