About Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum
Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum is housed in philanthropist and steel magnate Andrew Carnegie’s former mansion. Built at the turn of the century, its fin de siècle interiors feature ornate coffered oak ceilings, carved boiserie paneling, custom-made wallcoverings, and a conservatory with Palladian bronze and glass doors. A top-to-bottom interior and exterior renovation sensitively restored the grandeur of the mansion’s exquisite craftsmanship and injected contemporary architectural features to transform one of New York’s grandest residences into a dynamic, dramatic setting for gatherings of all sizes.
Situated on museum mile and steps away from the Guggenheim and Met, the mansion houses one of Manhattan’s largest enclosed gardens. The Arthur Ross Terrace and Garden has been designed to integrate contemporary landscape features with the garden’s historic plantings and is open year-round for tented or plein-air events.
With expansive views of Central Park and the magnificent Carnegie Mansion, the garden offers a range of color and texture for seasonal interest, sophisticated lighting design, and an inviting green lawn for outdoor entertaining.
CAPACITIES: Great Hall | 1,388 sq ft Standing: 250 Seated: 65
Arthur Ross Terrace & Garden | 7,600 sq ft Standing: 1,000 Seated: 400
Lecture Room | 1,300 sq ft Standing: 125 Seated: 70 (theater-style)
Trustees Room | 600 sq ft Standing: 60 Seated: 40