Luxury retailer moves into former auction house space.

On June 3, luxury goods retailer Hermes began occupying space within 55 East 59th St., the building that formerly housed Christie's auction house.

Hermes spent millions to reconfigure the space, which recaptured an extra 4,000 SF while altering the remaining 31,000 SF. Their New York corporate headquarters is now located here. The move consolidated two Hermes corporate offices.

Hermes purchased three floors of the building, including the basement, from Delmonico Plaza (who owns the 300,000-SF building.)

Three days prior to Hermes' occupation, a tour of the space revealed pear. wood panels, thick glass surfaces and black chairs that outclass the Aeron.

Workmen wandered the halls wielding tape measures. Above each of the office's doors were the names of those who would work there within 48 hours. The cantina-- with the sign "Le Bistro"--already had packets of ready-made cappuccino mix in a black display case.

The 18-month project was conducted 24-7, and involved major surgery to what one longtime Christie's employee called "tired office space."

The old high-ceilinged auction room was chopped into two office floors by slabbing over the space. The new floor now boasts a small employee cantina at the top of a stairwell. Corporate offices extend to the north from here, wrapping around the showroom. The space encompasses 75 separate offices.

"Hermes has consolidated two of their corporate offices here," said Beverly Diamond, the project manager responsible for the renovation.

Like the space itself, Diamond has an affiliation with Christie's, where she worked on the firm's relocation into Rockefeller Center.

Diamond said that her role in the renovation was "hands-on", with a focus on the logistics of the project. This meant keeping close tabs on the interior demolition, approvals and zoning issues that, are can stall projects.

"I really pulled it all together," said Diamond, who runs her own project management firm now.

The space boasts many closed-circuit security cameras positioned along several hallways and above the stairs. Security is obviously a concern for Hermes, as Diamond said that the firm was not comfortable releasing photographs or renderings of the new space.

Insignia broker Mary Ann Tighe represented the building on the sale.

The entire renovation cost Hermes roughly $6 million. Much of that cost went into outfitting the space with expensive glass surfaces and plenty of pear wood. The show room-reserved for press-is also opulent.