Sotheby’s has announced it will open its new global headquarters at the Breuer Building on Madison Avenue on November 8th. The inaugural weekend will include a major exhibition of modern and contemporary art, with marquee auctions scheduled for the week of November 17th. The public opening will be free to the public.
The Breuer Building was originally designed in the 1960s by Bauhaus architect Marcel Breuer for the Whitney Museum of American Art. Since it was sold to Sotheby’s, the building has undergone renovations led by Herzog & de Meuron in collaboration with PBDW Architects. The Pritzker Prize–winning firm is known for projects including the Tate Modern in London, M+ Museum in Hong Kong, and the de Young Museum in San Francisco.
The new architectural adaptation retains the structure’s defining features while adding upgrades, like new salesrooms, climate control systems andenhanced exterior lighting on Madison Avenue. The renovation restored the original gallery floor plans, and added a second-floor gallery.
“We are privileged to inhabit an architectural masterpiece that has been home to the Whitney Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Frick Collection,” said Lisa Dennison, executive vice president and chairman of the Americas department at Sotheby’s, in a press statement. “Those who knew it in earlier incarnations will be moved by how we’ve reimagined 945 Madison Avenue, preserving the spirit of nearly 60 years of acclaimed programming. Breuer’s design, with its remarkable ability to embrace many styles and eras of art, is especially meaningful for an auction house.”
The program for the opening includes public events and panel discussions, followed by Sotheby’s Design sales and Luxury Week beginning December 5th.
The Breuer headquarters marks the third recent expansion for Sotheby’s, following new buildings in Hong Kong and Paris in 2024. According to the auction house, these two new locations set new records for foot traffic to Sotheby’s.
