Jhaelen Hernandez-Eli

As the Museum’s Head of Construction, Jhaelen Hernandez-Eli oversees the Construction Department which leads the planning, design and construction of the institution’s capital projects. He is also an integral member of the leadership team dedicated to the Museum’s facilities and operations.

Prior to joining The Met in November 2020, Hernandez-Eli led critical projects for the city as Senior Vice President, Head of Design and Construction, at the New York City Economic Development Corporation. His portfolio, dedicated to enabling social and economic equity, spanned developments such as the Made in New York garment hub and film studios; Brooklyn Army Terminal; MART125 community center; public food markets; and the City’s entire waterfront infrastructure. Prior to his public service, Hernandez-Eli was an associate principal at Diller Scofidio + Renfro, where he provided critical operational oversight for projects for cultural institutions, including MoMA; Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum; and the High Line. He received a Master of Architecture degree from Harvard University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in architecture from the University of California at Berkeley.