Frick museum eschews new building for a place in the sun

The Frick Collection museum has abandoned plans for an expansion that would have replaced its beloved viewing garden and reception pavilion with a six-story addition.

"After months of public dialogue and thoughtful consideration and weighing the potential for a protracted approval process against the Frick's pressing needs, the Board of Trustees has decided to approach the expansion plan in a way that avoids building on the garden site," museum director Ian Wardropper says.

The Frick is housed in a landmarked Manhattan mansion. A coalition of preservationists, artists, architects and historians had opposed the expansion proposal, saying it would destroy the museum's residential character.