France's minister of culture has announced the winners of an architecture competition to renovate the Louvre and build a new room for the Mona Lisa. The winning firms are STUDIOS Architecture (founded in San Francisco, now Paris-based) and New York's Selldorf Architects, with BASE handling landscaping. The project, called Louvre Nouvelle Renaissance, was delayed due to criticism over cost and necessity following the October theft of France's crown jewels from the museum. Louvre president Christophe Leribault and the culture minister have refocused the renovation on upgrading security and preserving the aging structure, with a budget of €1 billion ($1.16 billion) and construction set to begin by 2028.
This renovation matters because it addresses critical security and preservation issues at one of the world's most visited museums, especially after a high-profile theft exposed vulnerabilities. The project also signals a shift in priorities from expansion to essential repairs, reflecting broader debates about how major cultural institutions balance modernization, heritage conservation, and public accountability. The inclusion of internationally recognized architects underscores the Louvre's continued global significance.