Koch Pours Millions Into Met

Inspired by Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, billionaire David H. Koch is planning a "spectacular" remake of the fountains at the entrance to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Mr. Koch disclosed in an interview on Thursday that he has pledged "at least $10 million" for the effort. He said the renovation project will include an overhaul of the two fountains, a dramatic upgrade to the museum's exterior lighting, and a full refurbishment of the entire plaza.

Noah Devereaux for the Wall Street Journal

David Koch has pledged at least $10 million to renovate the fountains outside the Met.

A spokesman for the Met confirmed that Mr. Koch "made a very generous offer" to help fund a renovation project that would include the oval fountains, which have been dormant for at least two years. The museum is in the "very early stages of weighing all the opportunities on the plaza," said Harold Holzer, the Met's senior vice president for external affairs. He added that museum representatives have held preliminary meetings with fountain experts.

Mr. Koch said he was inspired to spearhead the effort to renovate the outdoor space after seeing the new Lincoln Center fountain, which opened in October and features "choreographed" water effects. "They had water shooting 50 feet in the air, flooding the plaza," he said, recalling that fountain's unveiling. "I was mesmerized."

That evening, Mr. Koch cornered Met President Emily Rafferty. "I went right up to her—I was so fired up—and I said, 'Emily, I want to recreate those fountains!' "

Mr. Koch, who joined the Met's board in November 2008, said he "wanted to do something nice" for the museum.

Mr. koch was inspired by Lincoln Center's water show.

"If you go down Fifth Avenue, that plaza is so dreary," he said. "I want to improve the lighting, so that when you pass by at night and look over there, you'll see a beautiful fountain, dancing away."

According to Mr. Koch, a committee has met every Friday for the past several weeks to interview architectural firms competing for the commission. He declined to name the firms. Mr. Holzer declined to comment about whether a committee had been formed, as well as on the overall cost of the project, saying it is "much too soon" to provide a comprehensive figure.

Mr. Koch's is the first major gift dedicated to these renovations, according to Mr. Holzer.

The Met's fountains were installed in the early 1970s as a result of a gift from Lila Acheson Wallace, a co-founder of Reader's Digest. They are designated landmarks, meaning any changes must be approved by the Landmarks Preservation Commission.

Mr. Koch's estimated net worth is $17.5 billion, according to Forbes. He is executive vice president of Koch Industries, Inc.