The North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh, US, is to open its new 127,000sq ft expansion in April next year.

Work began on the building, which was designed by New York-based Thomas Phifer and Partners, in December 2006.

The new building will be home to the museum's permanent collection of 5,000 objects.

The existing building will have its lobby renovated and will become a centre for temporary exhibitions, collections management, education, and administration. Gardens and outdoor galleries will be created in a landscape for art and artist-conceived environmental projects.

Upon completion, the 164-acre campus will also boast walking paths, bike trails, ecological projects conceived with artists, and site-specific commissioned works of art.