JLL retained to market Rubin Museum property in Chelsea

• JLL has been retained to market the Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art’s former Chelsea flagship at 140–154 West 17th St. for sale.
• The 80,000-square-foot property includes a former museum and 46 apartments, with potential for cultural, educational, residential, or commercial use.
• The sale follows the Rubin’s shift to a global museum model, with proceeds supporting exhibitions, partnerships, and educational programs worldwide.

NEW YORK, Sept. 22 2026 – JLL announced that it has been exclusively retained by the Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art to market its New York City flagship location for sale.

Located at 140–154 West 17th St. in the heart of Chelsea, the property represents a rare opportunity to reposition a historically and architecturally significant asset at the nexus of Chelsea, the Flatiron District and Greenwich Village.

The 80,000-square-foot mixed-use site features a six-story former museum property totaling roughly 52,000 square feet, complemented by an adjacent and contiguous residential component with 46 apartments.

“This is a truly one-of-a-kind asset in New York City,” said David Carlos, Vice Chairman and head of JLL’s Nonprofit, Education & Government Practice. “Its rich history, institutional-quality infrastructure and architectural character make it exceptionally well-suited for a variety of uses. Opportunities like this, where a property can seamlessly adapt to cultural, educational, commercial or mixed-use applications, are extraordinarily rare in today’s market.”

The marketing of the property follows the Rubin Museum’s strategic transition to a global model, shifting from a single-site institution to an internationally focused museum without a centralized exhibition space, focusing on traveling exhibitions, long-term object loans, educational initiatives, and partnerships. The proceeds from the sale of the property will be put toward its ambitious global program that will greatly expand the Rubin's efforts to strengthen the representation and understanding of Himalayan art around the world.

Originally constructed in the mid-19th century as a row of attached brick residential buildings, the property was transformed in the 1980s when luxury retailer Barney’s New York expanded from its Seventh Avenue flagship and converted the residential structures into its first women’s department store. Beyer Blinder Belle was commissioned to combine the Beaux-Arts-style properties into a single six-story modern retail environment that included a restaurant, beauty salon and a dramatic Art Deco-inspired spiral staircase. It underwent various modifications before being converted into the Rubin Museum of Art in 2004. That renovation was designed by architect Richard Blinder of Beyer Blinder Belle to maintain much of the building's historic character while creating gallery spaces suited for museum use, including the distinctive staircase that became one of the museum's architectural highlights.

Other distinctive architectural features include a dramatic central atrium, performing arts theatre, café, bookstore, and museum-quality infrastructure that supports high-traffic uses such as elevators, loading facilities and climate-controlled environments.

“The Rubin is pleased to partner with JLL as we take this next step in our evolution,” said Jorrit Britschgi, Executive Director of the Rubin. “JLL brings a proven track record of working with leading nonprofit and institutional organizations to maximize the value and impact of their real estate strategies. We are confident their expertise will ensure this unique property is thoughtfully positioned for its next chapter.”

The team marketing the property for sale is led by David Carlos, Vice Chairman and Head of JLL’s Nonprofit Practice along with Rob Martin, Vice Chairman, Jonathan Hageman, Managing Director of Capital Markets, TJ Hochanadel, Executive Managing Director, and Natalie Sachmechi, Associate. Under Carlos’ leadership, JLL’s Nonprofit, Education & Government Practice has become the leading advisor in the Tri-State to a broad range of mission-driven institutions, including Weill Cornell Medicine, The New School, Hospital for Special Surgery, Museum of the City of New York, The Robin Hood Foundation and Bronx Defenders, to name a few.

Carlos added, “JLL’s specialized platform is uniquely positioned to guide organizations through complex real estate decisions, and we are proud to support the Rubin Museum in aligning this property with its long-term strategic vision while unlocking its full potential.”

JLL is a leader in the New York tri-state commercial real estate market, with more than 2,600 of the most recognized industry experts offering brokerage, capital markets, property/facilities management, consulting, and project and development services.

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The Rubin is a global museum dedicated to presenting Himalayan art and its insights. Founded in 2004, the Rubin serves people internationally through exhibitions, participatory experiences, a dynamic digital platform, and partnerships. Inspired and informed by Himalayan art, the Rubin invites people to contemplate the human experience and deepen connections with the world around them in order to expand awareness, enhance well-being, and cultivate compassion. The Rubin advances scholarship through a series of educational initiatives, grants, collection sharing, and the stewardship of a collection of nearly 4,000 Himalayan art objects spanning 1,500 years of history—providing unprecedented access and resources to scholars, artists, and students across the globe.

Current projects in New York City include the Rubin Museum Tibetan Buddhist Shrine Room installation at the Brooklyn Museum; a monthly lecture and meditation series in partnership with the High Line through October; an annual lecture at the Metropolitan Museum of Art; and an installation partnership with the New York Botanical Gardens for their Flower Power exhibition.

Visit rubinmuseum.org