New Eames Institute museum to open in Marin on former Birkenstock campus

The Eames Institute of Infinite Curiosity, a nonprofit dedicated to the legacy of designers Ray and Charles Eames, is planning to open a major museum in Marin County, according to the San Francisco Standard.

Since its founding in 2019, the institute's assets have grown from about $250,000 to $136 million by the end of 2024, fueled by significant donations including tens of millions of dollars that Joe Gebbia, Chief Design Officer of the U.S., may have contributed, as revealed in tax documents.

The institute purchased the 88-acre former Birkenstock campus in Novato for $36 million in 2025 and unveiled plans for a lavish museum on this landmark property along Highway 101.

The institute's rapid expansion has included hiring dozens of new staff and increasing leadership salaries, according to tax filings, reflecting its growing influence in the design and cultural landscape of the Bay Area.