Photo by Erin Kelly

The National Gallery of Art’s modern art collections will close later this year when the museum begins an extensive, three-year renovation expected to cost more than $68 million. When complete, the NGA’s 35-year-old East Building will have a thoroughly upgraded infrastructure and as more than 12,000 square feet of new exhibition space, the Associated Press reports.

The affected parts of the 35-year-old I.M. Pei-designed East Building will close between July and December, while construction is slated to begin next January.

According to the AP, the cost of the renovation is being split between the federal government and private contributors. The government will commit $38 million for repairing the building itself, while a group of philanthropists are covering the construction of two new towers that will house the NGA’s modern works, perhaps including paintings by Mark Rothko.

The expansion will also result in the creation of a rooftop sculpture garden overlooking Pennsylvania Avenue.