Wework Buys Lord And Taylor Building May 2026

The purchase was widely viewed as a symbolic "passing of the torch" from traditional brick-and-mortar retail to the modern, tech-driven coworking economy.

Renowned architect Bjarke Ingels was hired to oversee a massive renovation that aimed to preserve the building’s Italian Renaissance-style facade while modernizing the interior. The Downfall and Resale

After some financing delays, the sale officially closed in early 2019. Symbolism of the Move wework buys lord and taylor building

At the time, WeWork was one of the world's highest-valued startups (peaking at $47 billion) and was aggressively expanding its physical footprint.

Lord & Taylor, the oldest department store chain in the U.S., was struggling with the rise of e-commerce. The purchase was widely viewed as a symbolic

The acquisition of the historic by WeWork (as part of a joint venture with Rhône Capital ) was a landmark real estate deal that signaled a major shift in Manhattan’s commercial landscape. The Deal Overview

Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC), the parent company of Lord & Taylor, announced it would sell the iconic Fifth Avenue building to WeWork for $850 million . Symbolism of the Move At the time, WeWork

The deal quickly became a "white elephant" for WeWork following its failed IPO attempt in 2019 and the ousting of co-founder Adam Neumann.