Get ready, design lovers and innovation enthusiasts! The legendary Charles and Ray Eames are about to get a major museum upgrade in the North Bay. The Eames Institute of Infinite Curiosity has acquired the former Birkenstock factory in Novato, transforming the 88.5-acre property into what promises to be a groundbreaking design destination.

The iconic midcentury design couple, best known for their revolutionary furniture like the legendary Eames lounge chair, will now have a dedicated space that celebrates their incredible legacy. The museum, currently without an official name, will be designed by the renowned Swiss architecture firm Herzog & de Meuron, who previously created San Francisco’s deYoung Museum.

Llisa Demetrios, the granddaughter of Charles and Ray Eames, is spearheading this ambitious project. “To share my grandparents’ vision with the world is the honor of a lifetime,” she explained. The museum will offer immersive art exhibitions, makerspaces, workshops, and educational programming that reflect the Eameses’ boundless creativity and problem-solving approach to design.

The 123,000-square-foot building, which was originally a distribution center for McGraw Hill and later housed Birkenstock, will be transformed into a creative hub. Visitors can expect to explore portions of the Eames Collection, family archives, and engage with interactive exhibits that showcase the couple’s incredible contributions to design, architecture, and filmmaking.

John Cary, President & CEO of the Eames Institute, described the acquisition as “a transformational step” that will serve as a “permanent anchor for creativity and innovation in the Bay Area”. The museum aims to make the Eameses’ work more accessible, following their current Richmond archives, which already have a waitlist of 1,000 eager design enthusiasts.

For those who can’t wait to experience some Eames magic, an exhibit of their later furniture designs is currently on view at the Transamerica complex in downtown San Francisco. The museum’s full debut is still to be announced, but it’s already generating excitement among design professionals and enthusiasts alike.