Selldorf and Studios Architecture to Lead Louvre's €1 Billion Expansion

The Louvre Museum has appointed Selldorf Architects from New York and Studios Architecture Paris to spearhead its 'Nouvelle Renaissance' expansion, a project revealed by French President Emmanuel Macron in early 2025. This initiative, projected to exceed €1 billion ($1.2 billion), seeks to tackle issues like deteriorating infrastructure, overcrowding, and inadequate security. Plans include a new entrance designed to boost annual visitor numbers by three million and a 33,000-square-foot exhibition area for the Mona Lisa. However, the budget remains unclear, with former director Laurence des Cars estimating €270 million, while France's national auditing authority suggests €1.1 billion. New director Christophe Leribault deemed the project 'crucial and necessary,' despite criticisms that it favors flashy elements over essential maintenance. The expansion is seen as a beacon of hope following a tumultuous year marked by a $102 million theft, an $11.8 million ticket fraud scandal, leaks, staff strikes, and a leadership transition. Annabelle Selldorf's firm has previously worked on notable projects like the National Gallery's Sainsbury Wing, the Frick Collection, and the Smithsonian American Art Museum, while Studios Architecture Paris, established in 1985 in San Francisco, collaborated with Frank Gehry on the Fondation Louis Vuitton.