5. The Role of the Hanging Centerpiece

In November 2013, the Queens Museum finally completed its two-year and $69 million renovation by Grimshaw Architects, which essentially doubled its footprint to 105,000-square-feet and gave rise to a 48-foot tall atrium. One of the most notable features of the airy space is the “frosted-glass ‘lampshade'” that hangs above the atrium and below the museum’s skylight.

Although certainly a visual focus, the “glass ribs” are not just decorative. They actually help to reflect and manage the trajectory of the natural light to ensure it diffuses within the space. This is important since museum artifacts and art pieces can deteriorate in direct sunlight. According to Casimir Zdanius, Grimshaw’s head of industrial design, the angles of the panels (or louvers) were determined after conducting sun studies. Likewise, the strategically-aligned panels that act as a ceiling for the galleries help shift and shield the light that comes inside.