The museum has almost doubled its facilities with the addition of the new structure, adding more than 30,000sq ft (2,790sq m) of new galleries for its permanent collections, three temporary exhibition spaces, art storage and various other public amenities.

It is the first building in the US to be completed by Libeskind and was part of a larger, US$110m (£58.7m, 87.6m euro) project to revamp the museum’s complex which also included the addition of a 75,000sq ft (7,000sq m) plaza and renovations to several public spaces in the North Building.

The expansion marks the first major addition to the museum since its North Building, designed by Italian architect Gio Ponti, was completed 35 years ago.

Museum director Lewis Sharp said: “The Hamilton Building creates much-needed space to exhibit our extensive and diverse collection and travelling exhibitions. Libeskind’s dramatic design captures the energy and optimism of Denver and sets a new standard for civic architecture in the Rocky Mountain region and beyond.”

The museum was founded in 1893 and is one of the largest art museums between Chicago and the West Coast.

Photograph: Rendering of atrium in the Denver Art Museum’s new Frederic C. Hamilton Building, designed by Daniel Libeskind. Image by Miller Hare. Courtesy of the Denver Art Museum

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