In March 2016, The Met Breuer (pronounced BROY-er) opened the new home for The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s expanding modern and contemporary art program. Through exhibitions, artist residences, and performances, The Met Breuer invites visitors to engage with art of the 20th and 21st centuries through the global breadth and historical reach of the Museum's unparalleled collection and scholarly resources. Designed by Hungarian-born émigré and Bauhaus architect Marcel Breuer, the building opened in 1966 as the new home for the Whitney Museum of American Art. Following the Whitney’s announcement of its move to downtown Manhattan, The Met and the Whitney entered into a collaborative agreement, in which the Whitney retains ownership of the building and The Met is able to present programming in the building for a period of eight years. The Met restored the landmark building with special consideration given to respecting the patina of history. In keeping with Breuer’s belief that materials become more dignified over time, the restoration focused on gentle, targeted cleaning and repairs, as well as the removal of interventions made after 1966. Breuer's original finishes have been cleaned and restored, including the interior bush-hammered concrete surfaces, bluestone and parquet floors, bronze fixtures, granite accents, wooden handrails, and the iconic Breuer designed lobby lighting.