Frick’s Renovation Recognized with Four Major Preservation Awards
New York (March 25, 2026) — Nearly a year after its celebrated reopening, The Frick Collection announces four significant honors awarded this spring in recognition of its comprehensive renovation and enhancement. The organizations issuing the awards are influential within the fields of architectural preservation, a vital aspect of the project that honored the legacy of the museum’s and library’s 1914 and 1935 buildings, respectively. For these honors, the Frick is grateful to the Friends of the Upper East Side, the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art, the Municipal Art Society of New York, and the New York Landmarks Conservancy.
In April, the Friends of the Upper East Side is honoring the Frick’s restoration and expansion with a 2026 FRIENDS’ Seamless Heritage Award, noting that the institution was selected in appreciation of its “distinctive and meticulously executed project, a sensitive and respectful enhancement of a treasured cultural landmark.” This independent nonprofit organization is dedicated to preserving and celebrating the architectural legacy, livability, and sense of place of New York City’s Upper East Side.
The Institute of Classical Architecture & Art (ICAA) will recognize the Frick in May with the 2026 Arthur Ross Award for Stewardship. While this honor can be given annually, the organization does so only when motivated by a particular project’s strengths, making this an especially noteworthy accolade. ICAA is the leading national nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the practice and appreciation of the classical tradition in architecture and the allied arts, with regional chapters and a national headquarters in New York.
The Municipal Art Society of New York (MAS) has designated the Frick as a recipient of its MASterworks Design Award for Best Restoration. The ceremony, held in April, also marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of the awards, which recognize projects completed in the previous year that exemplify excellence across the municipal arts of architecture, landscape architecture, preservation, and public art. MAS was founded in 1893 to promote the use of these fields to work toward the creation of a more livable city, and to improve and protect New York City’s built environment.
Finally, the New York Landmarks Conservancy has selected the Frick to receive a Lucy G. Moses Preservation Project Award at its April ceremony, an event considered the city’s “Oscars of preservation.” Founded more than fifty years ago, the Conservancy has been a leader in preserving and protecting New York’s unique architectural heritage through expert advice, advocacy, and financial support. The Conservancy bestows its awards annually to recognize excellence in historic preservation.
Commented Elizabeth M. Eveillard, Chair of the Frick’s Board of Trustees, “Our reopening year has been deeply rewarding, as we’ve welcomed a broader public to discover, and rediscover, the beauty and intimacy of our historic buildings. To be met with recognition from four major preservation organizations is very meaningful. On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I share congratulations with our partners in the renovation—project designers Selldorf Architects and executive architects Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners—along with the Frick’s curators and conservators and all of our dedicated staff. We also thank Ian Wardropper, the Frick’s Director Emeritus, whose leadership and vision throughout the multiyear project led to these gratifying recognitions.”
Added Axel Rüger, Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Director, “As an institution whose unique identity is tied to our historic Gilded Age home, our success both generally and in our recent renovation derives from the input and interest of the vital organizations invested in our community. Their devotion to the field of preservation offers great value locally and nationally, fostering a sense of shared history. We are profoundly honored by these awards and express our deep appreciation to these four organizations who have recognized the Frick, and to everyone who makes our work possible.”
ABOUT THE FRICK COLLECTION
Housed in one of New York City’s last great Gilded Age homes, The Frick Collection provides intimate encounters with one of the world’s foremost collections of fine and decorative arts. Open since 1935, the institution originated with Henry Clay Frick, who bequeathed his Fifth Avenue residence and collection of European paintings, sculpture, and decorative arts for the enjoyment of the public. The museum’s holdings, which encompass masterworks from the Renaissance to the late nineteenth century, have grown over the decades, more than doubling in number since the opening of the museum. The Frick Art Research Library, founded more than one hundred years ago by Henry Clay Frick’s daughter Helen Clay Frick, is today a leading art history research center that serves students, scholars, and the public.
Last spring, the Frick completed a major renovation and enhancement project and reopened on April 17, 2025, with great fanfare. Designed by Selldorf Architects, with executive architect Beyer Blinder Belle, the project was developed to honor the historic legacy and character of the Frick while addressing critical infrastructural and operational needs.
For more information, please visit frick.org.