I’m particularly excited that our first public building in New York City will be for the New Museum, one of the most forward-thinking institutions for which I’ve always had a great affinity
– Rem Koolhaas

International architecture firm OMA are set to design their first public building in New York City, an expansion of the city’s New Museum.

Studio partners Rem Koolhaas and Shohei Shigematsu will lead the project, which is being built on a site at 231 Bowery, purchased by the contemporary art museum in 2008.

The expansion, first announced in May 2016, will double the museum’s footprint by providing an additional 50,000sq ft (4,600sq m) for galleries, improved public circulation and flexible spaces. As a result, visitor numbers are expected to significantly increase from the current figure of 400,000 per year.

The new structure will complement the museum’s flagship building, designed by Japanese architects SANAA and opened in 2007, “as a singular, critically acclaimed work of architecture.”

“I’m particularly excited that our first public building in New York City will be for the New Museum, one of the most forward-thinking institutions for which I’ve always had a great affinity,” said Koolhaas. “Having collaborated with SANAA’s Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa on a number of projects in Europe, it's a real honour to stand alongside their great work of architecture, one of my favourites in the city.”

Museum trustee Lisa Phillips added: “OMA is a great choice for our next building. Koolhaas has thought deeply about the identity and landscape of our city going back to his landmark book Delirious New York, published in 1978, a year after the museum’s founding. He is one of the world’s finest architects with a deeply civic and public spirit.”

The project is scheduled to break ground in 2019. It is being funded by a US$85m (€72m, £64.5m) capital campaign.