One of New York's most iconic Brutalist architectural landmarks has found new life as a premier art destination. The Breuer Building, originally designed by Marcel Breuer in 1966, officially reopened this week as the global headquarters of Sotheby's auction house after an extensive restoration by renowned Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron. Located at 945 Madison Avenue, the building has served as home to some of America's most prestigious cultural institutions, including the Whitney Museum of American Art, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and The Frick Collection.
The restoration project represents a careful balance between preservation and modernization, undertaken by Herzog & de Meuron in collaboration with New York-based PBDW Architects. Wim Walschap, Senior Partner at Herzog & de Meuron, emphasized the building's significance during a recent preview event. "This building is an example of postwar modernism and Brutalism with a very distinct beauty," Walschap explained. "It was designed specifically for public use. It has endured as an icon and much-loved landmark in New York, proving also its timeless appeal."
The architects approached the renovation with deep respect for Breuer's original vision, maintaining the distinctive bush-hammered concrete surfaces that define the building's character. The concrete continues to express itself as both surface and structure, preserving the weight and texture that made the building an architectural icon. Along Madison Avenue, a subtle new lighting scheme has been installed to enhance the facade's sculptural presence during evening hours, giving the building renewed prominence in the city's nighttime landscape.
Inside the building, the renovation focused on restoring the original gallery sequences that Breuer conceived for the Whitney Museum while adapting them for Sotheby's diverse programming needs. Office partitions that had been added over the years were removed to reestablish the spatial continuity that Breuer intended. The architects installed updated environmental systems and new lighting throughout the galleries, calibrating the spaces to accommodate both fine art exhibitions and design objects that will be featured in Sotheby's auctions and events.
"We worked closely with Sotheby's to ensure that the building does more than just retain its identity," Walschap noted. "We've tried to reactivate it and prepare it for the next generation of use, balancing preservation and transformation." The intervention works largely through precision rather than addition, maintaining the rhythm of exposed concrete, dark granite floors, and carefully proportioned window openings that remain central to the visitor experience.
The renovated galleries have reopened with impressive inaugural exhibitions that showcase works from several prestigious collections. Visitors can view pieces from The Leonard A. Lauder Collection, The Cindy and Jay Pritzker Collection, and "Exquisite Corpus," a major private collection of Surrealist art. Notable works on display include Jean-Michel Basquiat's "Crowns (Peso Neto)" from 1981 and Maurizio Cattelan's controversial "America" from 2016. The third-floor galleries feature highlights from upcoming Modern Evening Auctions, including works by Dorothea Tanning, Frida Kahlo, and Victor Brauner.
True to Breuer's original vision of accessibility, these exhibitions remain free and open to the public, ensuring that the building continues to serve its community function. Steve Wrightson, Sotheby's Global Head of Real Estate, Facilities & Security, described the significance of this moment: "The opening of Sotheby's at the Breuer is a historic moment for New York City, the art world, and our company. The Breuer building, deeply woven into the architectural landmarks and history of New York, perfectly complements our portfolio of marquee locations in Hong Kong, Paris, London, and Zurich."
The restoration included significant updates to the building's infrastructure while preserving its architectural integrity. Gallery ceilings were stripped back to their original profiles and equipped with new track lighting systems that can adjust between exhibition and salesroom configurations. On the second floor, a flexible hall has been created to accommodate lectures, talks, and special events, expanding the building's programming capabilities beyond traditional gallery exhibitions.
Lisa Dennison, Sotheby's Executive Vice President and Chairman, Americas, reflected on the building's transformation and its connection to Breuer's original design philosophy. "Those who knew it in earlier incarnations will be moved by how we've reimagined 945 Madison Avenue," Dennison said. "Breuer's design, with its remarkable ability to embrace many styles and eras of art, is especially meaningful for Sotheby's." The building's completion will be marked by the opening of a restaurant designed by Roman and Williams in the spring, which will complete the building's reactivation as a vibrant cultural destination in New York's Upper East Side.
