Mon Nov 04 19:26:12 UTC 2024: ## Sotheby’s Acquires Iconic Breuer Building, Plans Herzog & de Meuron Renovation
**New York, NY** – Sotheby’s, the renowned auction house, has announced the acquisition of the iconic Breuer Building, formerly home to the Whitney Museum of American Art, on New York’s Upper East Side. The building, designed by Marcel Breuer in 1966, will undergo a renovation by Pritzker Prize-winning architects Herzog & de Meuron, known for their sensitive interventions in historic structures.
The renovation, which is expected to be completed by fall 2025, will include the construction of new sales rooms, galleries, and dining spaces, transforming the building into Sotheby’s global headquarters.
“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity,” said Sotheby’s CEO Charles F. Stewart, reaffirming the auction house’s commitment to preserving the building’s integrity.
Herzog & de Meuron, responsible for iconic projects such as the De Young Museum in San Francisco and the Tate Modern in London, will ensure the Breuer Building’s unique character is maintained. “By reviving lost spaces, carefully inserting new ones and doing other subtle interventions with a considered palette of materials,” said firm cofounder Jacques Herzog, “the building will be prepared for its new role in the auction world and will also be more accessible again for visitors and the people of New York.”
The Breuer Building, a stark, nearly windowless structure, has a history of housing prominent museums. It was vacated by the Frick Collection in 2023, which had occupied it as the Frick Madison while its own home underwent restoration.
Sotheby’s acquisition marks a significant shift in the building’s history, transforming it from a cultural hub into a center for the world of art collecting. The auction house’s commitment to a thoughtful and respectful renovation promises to ensure the building’s enduring legacy in the city’s architectural landscape.
First Piper 