NCMA was the first museum in the country to be established with state funding, in support of its public mission to collect art for the benefit and enjoyment of North Carolina. The new West Building, designed by Thomas Phifer and Partners is approximately 127,000 ft² (11,800 m²), and is directly adjacent to the original museum, where it  provides ample new exhibition space for the  permanent collection gallery. Views of the surrounding landscaped sculpture gardens and reflecting pool spill into the gallery space through expansive glass walls. The roof creates a striking undulating line from the exterior and is resolved at the interior as a unique coffered ceiling system composed of elliptical light-diffusing skylights, which provide even, full-spectrum, natural light, ideal for viewing the art collection.  Front collaborated on the façade systems, from schematic design through construction documents, including the custom skylights, the floor-to-ceiling glass walls, and the integration of these systems with the aluminum louvers and fiber-reinforced precast concrete elements.