SMPS Submission
The Frick Collection
Renovating The Frick Collection required more than preservation—it demanded precise engineering amid uncertainty. As structural engineer of record for this eight-year renovation and expansion, Simpson Gumpertz & Heger (SGH) was tasked with integrating modern systems into historic structures with limited existing documentation, while maintaining the architectural integrity of one of New York’s most significant cultural institutions.
SGH’s project video, “The Frick Collection: Renovation & Expansion,” translates this complexity into a clear, human-centered narrative. Through interviews with project engineers, the video reveals how the team addressed misaligned existing columns; navigated unknown structural conditions; and coordinated new roofing, waterproofing, and mechanical systems within the constrained historic fabric. Rather than presenting a finished project alone, the story focuses on decision-making—how engineers evaluate risk, adapt in real time, and balance preservation with performance—to show how the unseen technical details can have a huge impact for the museum and its visitors.
The Marketing team combined technical insights with visual storytelling, using professional project photography, drawings, and custom animations to make complex engineering accessible without oversimplification. We reinforced trust with our client, The Frick Collection, by ensuring their approval of all content and imagery, given strict institutional standards.
Filmed during the final preparations for the museum’s reopening, the video was subsequently distributed across SGH’s website and digital channels to reach clients, collaborators, and the broader AEC community. The entry stands out by demonstrating that engineering storytelling can do more than document a project—it can illuminate the thinking behind it.
