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Bonhams to Open New U.S. Flagship in NYC
In February 2026, the auction house will move its headquarters to the former Steinway Hall, a neoclassical landmark on Billionaires’ Row.
The historic Steinway Hall rotunda, depicted in a rendering above, once served as Steinway & Sons’ showroom and reception hall. With interior design by Nada Sawires of Design X Nada, it is being transformed into an intimate exhibition space as part of Bonhams’ new flagship.
New York—Bonhams is set to open its new U.S. headquarters in New York City next year on Feb. 9, 2026.
It is moving to 111 West 57th Street, the former Steinway Hall, from its current location on Madison Avenue between 56th and 57th Streets.
Steinway Hall was constructed on 57th Street in 1925 as piano makers Steinway & Sons’ headquarters, designed by Warren & Wetmore, the architects of Grand Central Station.
In 2013, JDS Development Group bought the building and later began restoration, preserving the exterior limestone facade bearing the Steinway name and the historic domed reception hall that will serve as an intimate exhibition space for the auction house.
The interiors were designed by global practice Gensler, known for notable New York projects including Ford Foundation Center for Social Justice, The New York Times Building, and the Brooklyn Public Library in Brooklyn Heights.
Gensler’s design celebrates contrast, melding the limestone and brick of the historic Steinway Hall with modern finishes and materials.
The exhibition space, pictured at the top of the article, features interior design by Nada Sawires of Design X Nada.
It takes cues from the original Beaux-Arts rotunda, featuring a series of bespoke pieces made from glass, stone, and liquid metals accented by soft suedes and rich velvets.
An adjacent 80-foot atrium will house Bonhams’ grand reception and main lobby.
It is moving to 111 West 57th Street, the former Steinway Hall, from its current location on Madison Avenue between 56th and 57th Streets.
Steinway Hall was constructed on 57th Street in 1925 as piano makers Steinway & Sons’ headquarters, designed by Warren & Wetmore, the architects of Grand Central Station.
In 2013, JDS Development Group bought the building and later began restoration, preserving the exterior limestone facade bearing the Steinway name and the historic domed reception hall that will serve as an intimate exhibition space for the auction house.
The interiors were designed by global practice Gensler, known for notable New York projects including Ford Foundation Center for Social Justice, The New York Times Building, and the Brooklyn Public Library in Brooklyn Heights.
Gensler’s design celebrates contrast, melding the limestone and brick of the historic Steinway Hall with modern finishes and materials.
The exhibition space, pictured at the top of the article, features interior design by Nada Sawires of Design X Nada.
It takes cues from the original Beaux-Arts rotunda, featuring a series of bespoke pieces made from glass, stone, and liquid metals accented by soft suedes and rich velvets.
An adjacent 80-foot atrium will house Bonhams’ grand reception and main lobby.
The Steinway rotunda, located at the base of Steinway Hall (left), connects to the adjacent glass atrium.
A rendering depicting Bonhams’ lobby and the entrance to the Steinway rotunda. Rendering by Daria Ryvkina
The lobby features a grand staircase, as seen in this rendering, that leads to a gallery and auction rooms. Rendering by Daria Ryvkina
Inside, a grand staircase leads to a natural light-filled, triple-height gallery complete with two large auction rooms.
Warm white oak finishes throughout provide a calm, neutral backdrop, the auction house said, allowing visitors to focus on the art and objects.
Bonhams said it seeks to move beyond the traditional auction house model to become “a dynamic cultural destination, designed to inspire discovery and engagement.”
The 42,000-square-foot space is 30 percent bigger than Bonhams’ Madison Avenue location.
It includes a variety of exhibition spaces to accommodate large-scale objects, site-specific works, and special installations across the auction house’s more than 60 categories, including fine art, design, jewelry, cars, and pop culture.
“The new [headquarters] will set a new tone for Bonhams, as we transform our offering to the U.S. market,” said Lilly Chan, managing director at Bonhams U.S.
“The journey to opening in 2026 is defined by significant investment in Bonhams’ future here in New York, enabling us to create a destination that blends heritage with innovation. We’re proud to be joining 57th Street’s cultural corridor that will enable us to scale our ambitions to greater heights.”
The space will also accommodate Bonhams’ full New York workforce, it said.
“The new U.S. flagship is a key development for Bonhams’ global expansion, demonstrating the importance of our U.S. audiences as we future-proof for an ever-changing market,” said Seth Johnson, Bonhams CEO.
“As a 230-year-old auction house, Bonhams is committed to upholding and preserving heritage through fostering greater public access, richer programming, and enhanced collector engagement.”
Bonhams said it will inaugurate its new home with an array of objects that celebrate the new multipurpose space, as well as its unique ability to converge art, culture, and heritage.
As part of its opening celebrations, an original 1910 Steinway & Sons piano used by Sir Elton John will be on display ahead of auctions and will host a series of guest performances.
Major works of 20th and 21st Century art and design will be exhibited, including an exhibition of Modern Cuban painters, Bonhams said.
The 2026 calendar will also include special programming for Asia Week New York in March and the Marquee Fine Art Auctions in May.
More details on inaugural programming will be released later, with updates available on Bonhams’ website.
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