The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) unanimously voted to designate the former Whitney Museum of American Art building at 945 Madison Avenue as both an Individual and Interior Landmark on May 20, 2025. This decision formally recognizes the Brutalist-style structure, designed by architect Marcel Breuer, as a significant example of modern urban architecture.

Constructed in 1966, the building served as the Whitney Museum of American Art's home until 2014. Its distinctive inverted pyramid form and Brutalist façade have long made it a notable presence on the Upper East Side, contrasting with the surrounding 19th-century architecture. During deliberations, Commissioners commented on the strong inside-outside continuity of Breuer's design and the building's notable contribution to the urban fabric of the neighborhood.

The LPC's designation ensures the preservation of the building's unique design elements. While the exterior has been regulated as part of the Upper East Side Historic District since 1981, this new landmarking extends protection to key interior spaces, specifically the lobby, coat check, and main stairwell. It is important to note that the designation does not include the gallery spaces of the former museum.

The building's architect, Marcel Breuer, trained as a carpenter at the Bauhaus in Weimar, Germany, and was a leading innovator in furniture design, including the iconic Wassily Chair. After immigrating to the United States in 1937, he joined Walter Gropius at Harvard University. Breuer's designs are known for their direct expression of materials, particularly his work with raw concrete, which became a hallmark of the Brutalist style popular in the 1950s.

The building was acquired by Sotheby's in 2024 and is currently undergoing renovations to become the auction house's new global headquarters. This new chapter for the Breuer building ensures its continued prominent role within the Upper East Side's architectural landscape.

FRIENDS has long advocated for interior landmark designation for the Breuer building. We are proud to have been part of a coalition of preservation organizations, led by DOCOMOMO, that advocated for this designation. Landmarking this building preserves both its architectural and cultural significance, including Breuer's contribution to New York City.

For more details, you can read the LPC's press release here.

Read FRIENDS' letter of support for the request for evaluation for an interior landmark status here.