The new East Building complemented the existing neoclassical building (1904, architect Cass Gilbert): according to the museum's management, both buildings express the "ideal of a democratic palace of the arts" in the language of their time. At the same time, this project of Chipperfield, like many of his other works, is a clear reference to modernism in the mid-20th century.
The façade is made up of glazing surfaces and polished dark concrete panels. Local rock typical of the Missouri River Valley was used as aggregate. The building received its own main entrance, and inside it is connected by a new main staircase with the premises of the old building. Glazed openings with sun-protection filters, fittings, etc. are hidden in deep "caissons" of the concrete floor so that technical details do not distract from the works of art. The flooring is made of white oak wood.
The new building increased the exhibition area of the museum by 30%: it houses the halls of the permanent exhibition (post-war US art) and temporary exhibitions. New public spaces were added on the lower level, in particular, a restaurant for 100 visitors and a cafe for 60 guests, a museum store and an auditorium for 480 people were also reconstructed. In addition, an underground garage for 300 cars has been set up under the East Building: thanks to it, there is space for greenery and sculptures on the surface of the earth. Michel Devin is responsible for the landscape design, which has been only partially implemented so far.
The total area of the building is about 19 thousand m2, the budget is $ 160 million.
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