Exhibit Designer: Metropolitan Museum of Art Exhibits Department; Architect: Kevin Roche John Dinkeloo Architects
This project was completed in 1998 during Steven Hefferan's tenure as resident lighting designer at the Met.

Metropolitan Museum of Art

Gelman Collection Galleries Renovation

Renovating this low-ceiling gallery in the 20th Century Art department of the Met offered Hefferan the opportunity to push the limits of minimal and integrated lighting systems that do not sacrifice flexibility of fixture placement or lighting effects. Rows of mounted track were replaced with perimeter recessed track; these were integrated with air diffusers positioned to illuminate the paintings of the collection. At regular intervals in the gallery, Hefferan also placed discreet single fixture 'monopoint' track sections to provide positions for lighting the occasional sculpture. Temporary bridge tracks inserted into two adjoining monopoints offered additional fixture positions for free-standing wall sections. Using the smallest possible museum-quality track fixtures completed a solution that keeps all the visual emphasis on this outstanding collection of modern masterpieces.