Louvre Reveals Architects for $1 Billion Expansion
The Louvre in Paris announced that Selldorf Architects (New York), led by Annabelle Selldorf, will partner with Studios Architecture Paris to design its “Nouvelle Renaissance” expansion, a project estimated to cost more than €1 billion (about $1.2 billion). First announced by French President Emmanuel Macron at the start of 2025, the plan includes a new entrance projected to add three million visitors per year and a dedicated 33,000-square-foot gallery for Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa. Louvre director Christophe Leribault confirmed the museum will proceed with the project, originally developed under former director Laurence des Cars, though the budget remains disputed, with estimates ranging from about €270 million to €1.1 billion. The expansion is framed as a response to overcrowding, aging infrastructure, and security concerns following recent scandals and setbacks, including a $102 million heist and an $11.8 million ticket fraud case.
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This story was covered in Billion-Dollar Museums, Billion-Dollar Bids