The iconic Breuer Building on the corner of Madison Avenue and East 75th Street has found its newest purpose as Sotheby's global headquarters, following a careful renovation by renowned architects Herzog & de Meuron working alongside PBDW Architects. After purchasing the building for approximately $100 million in 2023, the prestigious auction house has transformed the modernist landmark while preserving its architectural integrity.

The brutalist structure, originally designed by Marcel Breuer and built in 1966 as the Whitney Museum's third home, has experienced a turbulent decade of transitions. The Whitney relocated to a new Renzo Piano-designed building in the Meatpacking District in 2015, leaving the Madison Avenue location to serve as The Met Breuer satellite from 2016 to 2021. Subsequently, it housed The Frick Collection's works during that institution's extensive renovation, creating what many described as a fascinating aesthetic combination.

Recognizing the building's historical significance, the Landmarks Preservation Commission designated it as both an Individual and Interior Landmark on May 20, protecting its distinctive exterior and two-story lobby. This landmark status ensures that recent additions, such as digital display screens and vitrines installed where benches once sat, remain removable and reversible modifications.

The renovation focused on subtle improvements rather than dramatic changes, increasing exhibition space by 27 percent while maintaining the building's character. Herzog & de Meuron partner Wim Walschap explained that their goal was to preserve the building's architectural integrity while adapting it for a dynamic future. Jacques Herzog emphasized their approach, stating that "paradoxically, our strongest architectural contribution to this building was to remain quasi-invisible, as if everything had always been there."

The building's famous interior features remain largely intact, including the signature ceiling grid of circular reflectors dotted with silvered bulbs that continues to illuminate the lobby. Visitors ascending the stairs will find Charles Simonds' 1981 sculpture "Dwellings" still perched on its ledge, undisturbed like a protective house spirit. This piece remains on long-term loan from the Whitney Museum.

Significant changes are most apparent on the fourth floor, where Breuer's distinctive "cyclopean eye" window overlooking Madison Avenue has been refinished. The renovation removed an unusual previous feature – a trough in the bottom right corner that channeled window condensation into a small bucket. This floor will serve as an auction space, with movable gallery walls allowing for flexible room configurations to accommodate bidding events.

A new VIP mezzanine has been added along the north side of the fourth floor, enclosed in one-way mirrored glass to provide exclusive viewing areas for premium auction attendees. Behind the check-in desk, a new bronzed metal door conceals upgraded back-of-house facilities, including a new freight elevator designed to transport valuable artworks and VIP visitors without passing through the main lobby.

The building now showcases an extraordinary array of artworks from several significant private collections scheduled for auction, with estimated total sales approaching $1 billion. The lead auction features works from the collection of Leonard A. Lauder of the Estée Lauder family, who passed away earlier this year. Other notable collections include pieces from Cindy and Jay Pritzker, the couple who established the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 1979 and were instrumental in creating Chicago's Millennium Park.

Among the remarkable works on display, visitors can view Salvador Dalí's "Symbiose de la tête aux coquillages," estimated at $2-3 million, and Henri Matisse's stunning triptych "Léda et le cygne," expected to fetch $7-10 million. Perhaps most notably, a Frida Kahlo self-portrait carries an estimate of $40-60 million, representing one of the auction's most valuable lots.

For those seeking more accessible pieces, the Kelly Collection of American Illustration offers works starting at $20,000, while a Donald Judd wall piece from Joel Shapiro's collection is estimated at $60,000-80,000. These varied price points reflect Sotheby's stated mission to make fine art accessible to a broader audience.

One of the most popular attractions is Maurizio Cattelan's "America," a fully functional solid gold toilet weighing over 200 pounds, installed within an infinity-mirrored bathroom complete with gold fixtures and signage. Originally displayed as a working toilet at the Guggenheim in 2016, the piece serves as both artistic commentary and Instagram magnet, drawing long lines of visitors eager to experience this provocative work.

Charles F. Stewart, Sotheby's CEO, described the building's opening as a homecoming that aligns with the wave of major museum improvements recently completed throughout New York City. He emphasized that Sotheby's acquired the Breuer Building because "we want more people to access, experience, learn, discover, and ultimately to own fine art and luxury objects."

The transformation appears successful in creating what essentially functions as a permanent art fair, with works densely displayed on walls painted white, dark blue, or green, each accompanied by estimated price ranges. This pricing transparency offers visitors an educational opportunity to understand art market values while viewing museum-quality works before they enter private collections. As a company with over 280 years in business, Sotheby's seems committed to serving as a responsible steward of this architectural landmark, ensuring both the building's preservation and continued public access to extraordinary art.