What to know about Frida Escobedo, first woman to design a wing of the Met Museum
In 2018, Escobedo became the youngest architect and only the second solo woman to design the Serpentine Gallery’s annual pavilion at the Kensington Gardens in London.
Architect Frida Escobedo at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. (Photos - NYT, The Metropolitan Museum of Art)
In December, Mexican architect Frida Escobedo became the first woman and youngest architect to be commissioned to design a wing of the 154-year-old Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
Popularly known as the Met, the museum preserves 5,000 years of world history through 5 lakh works of art. The annualMet Gala hosted by the museumis regarded today as one of the prestigious events for fashion worldwide.
The newly announced Oscar L Tang and HM Agnes Hsu-Tang Wing will house its 20th- and 21st-century art collection and is set to open in 2030.
Firsts to her credit
Escobedo, in her forties, is no stranger to the art of breaking ceilings. In 2018, she shot to international fame by becoming the youngest architect and only the second solo woman to design the Serpentine Gallery’s annual pavilion at the Kensington Gardens in London. She created dark walls made from cement roofing tiles and played with light and water that a reviewer from The Guardian called a “rough, tough, contemplative haven”. Escobedo says that her practice “defies the traditional boundaries of discipline, operating at a wide array of scales and mediums…” The same can be said for her as well.
Temporary pavilion of the Serpentine Gallery designed by Frida Escobedo in 2018. (Photo – Wikimedia Commons)
Known as an introvert, Escobedo was born in Mexico City in 1979 to a sociologist mother and a doctor father. From childhood, she was interested in art and making things. She told The New York Times, “Expressing yourself and your emotions, and transforming it into something that you want to present to someone always felt a little bit intimidating. So, design and art felt like a safer ground for me”.
Escobedo studied architecture at Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico City and then went to Harvard Graduate School of Design for a postgraduate degree in art, design, and the public domain.
Her time at the American institution, teeming with scholars, scientists, artists and thinkers of various sensibilities, proved transformative. “It showed me that it was true: Architecture was not just about developing housing or doing retail or hospitality or these very traditional things. It could be something else. You could be doing an installation, it could be doing furniture, it could be writing about it, it could be doing performance. All of these were talking about space,” she told NYT.
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And the award goes to…
Escobedo returned to Mexico City and set up her eponymous studio in 2006. She built her reputation “on a series of competition-winning projects” in her home country. This included the renovation of the 1950s Hotel Boca Chica in 2008. Escobedo and her collaborator José Rojas gave the beach-side hotel a breath of fresh air by reactivating many spaces and introducing bright furniture and a nightclub.
In the following years, Escobedo won several awards and turned heads.
About the new wing for the Met
An official statement from the Met says that Escobedo’s design, unveiled in December 2024, “blends contemporary architectural elements with the established architectural styles of The Met. The five-story wing will feature a distinctive limestone “celosía”—a screen that evokes both historical and contemporary architectural traditions—creating a visually striking facade that harmonises with the existing building while maintaining a distinct identity. Internally, the design prioritises the flow of gallery spaces, with varied ceiling heights ranging from 11 to 22 feet, allowing for the flexible display of art of diverse scales and formats. This ensures a dynamic and engaging visitor experience”.
The new wing will include several amenities to increase visitor comfort and enjoyment. “A 1,000 sqft cafe will provide a space for respite and refreshment, and expanded outdoor terraces will offer stunning views of Central Park. The Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Roof Garden will also be relocated and significantly enlarged, providing ample space for outdoor exhibitions and events,” says The Met.
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Incidentally, the studio that Escobedo opened in NYC to work on the new wing has been selected as the associate designer to the Moreau Kusunoki to lead the renovation of Centre Pompidou in Paris. This landmark of art will also open in 2030.
Dipanita Nath is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. She is a versatile journalist with a deep interest in the intersection of culture, sustainability, and urban life.
Professional Background
Experience: Before joining The Indian Express, she worked with other major news organizations including Hindustan Times, The Times of India, and Mint.
Core Specializations: She is widely recognized for her coverage of the climate crisis, theatre and performing arts, heritage conservation, and the startup ecosystem (often through her "Pune Inc" series).
Storytelling Focus: Her work often unearths "hidden stories" of Pune—focusing on historical institutes, local traditions, and the personal journeys of social innovators.
Recent Notable Articles (December 2025)
Her recent reporting highlights Pune’s cultural pulse and the environmental challenges facing the city during the winter season:
1. Climate & Environment
"Pune shivers on coldest morning of the season; minimum temperature plunges to 6.9°C" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the record-breaking cold wave in Pune and the IMD's forecast for the week.
"How a heritage tree-mapping event at Ganeshkhind Garden highlights rising interest in Pune’s green legacy" (Dec 20, 2025): Covering a citizen-led initiative where Gen Z and millennials gathered to document and protect ancient trees at a Biodiversity Heritage Site.
"Right to breathe: Landmark NGT order directs PMC to frame norms for pollution from construction sites" (Dec 8, 2025): Reporting on a significant legal victory for residents fighting dust and air pollution in urban neighborhoods like Baner.
2. "Hidden Stories" & Heritage
"Inside Pune library that’s nourished minds of entrepreneurs for 17 years" (Dec 21, 2025): A feature on the Venture Center Library, detailing how a collection of 3,500 specialized books helps tech startups navigate the product life cycle.
"Before he died, Ram Sutar gave Pune a lasting gift" (Dec 18, 2025): A tribute to the legendary sculptor Ram Sutar (creator of the Statue of Unity), focusing on his local works like the Chhatrapati Shivaji statue at Pune airport.
"The Pune institute where MA Jinnah was once chief guest" (Dec 6, 2025): An archival exploration of the College of Agriculture, established in 1907, and its historical role in India's freedom struggle.
3. Arts, Theatre & "Pune Inc"
"Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak were not rivals but close friends, says veteran filmmaker" (Dec 17, 2025): A deep-dive interview ahead of the Pune International Film Festival (PIFF) exploring the camaraderie between legends of Indian cinema.
"Meet the Pune entrepreneur helping women build and scale businesses" (Dec 16, 2025): Part of her "Pune Inc" series, profiling Nikita Vora’s efforts to empower female-led startups.
"How women drone pilots in rural Maharashtra are cultivating a green habit" (Dec 12, 2025): Exploring how technology is being used by women in agriculture to reduce chemical use and labor.
Signature Style
Dipanita Nath is known for intellectual curiosity and a narrative-driven approach. Whether she is writing about a 110-year-old eatery or the intricacies of the climate crisis, she focuses on the human element and the historical context. Her columns are often a blend of reportage and cultural commentary, making them a staple for readers interested in the "soul" of Pune.
X (Twitter): @dipanitanath ... Read More
4 min read
Temporary pavilion of the Serpentine Gallery designed by Frida Escobedo in 2018. (Photo – Wikimedia Commons)
