LPC approves rooftop freight elevator and signage for Breuer building; canopy treatment sent back for further study

The Landmarks Preservation Commission on Jan. 28 approved a rooftop freight‑elevator bulkhead and new vitrine signage for the former Whitney Museum building at 945 Madison Avenue — the Marcel Breuer–designed building now under restoration by Sotheby’s — while asking the applicant to continue studying a proposed metal panel beneath the street canopy and alternate lighting solutions.

Sotheby’s and its architects told the commission they intend to adapt the Breuer building for auction and exhibition use, restore the building’s exterior and add a new freight elevator to move artwork efficiently without disrupting public circulation. The design team said the elevator bulkhead will be centered on the deep lot, tucked behind existing stair bulkheads, measure roughly 19 feet in plan and rise modestly above the existing stair bulkhead. The team proposed cladding the new bulkhead in board‑formed concrete texture to match the directional board‑form patterns found on existing…