The Currier Museum of Art in Manchester, New Hampshire has reopened its doors to the public after completing a two-year redevelopment programme.

The US$21.4m (13.6 euro, £10.8m) project included the construction of a 33,000sq ft (3,065sq m) extension to the existing gallery space, expanding the museum’s footprint to 90,000sq ft (8,360sq m).

As a result, five new galleries have been added, increased exhibition space by 50 per cent, while a new reception space will bridge the original 1929 building to the new galleries.

A new winter garden will host special events and community programmes and also houses a café.

Other new features include the addition of a 180-seat auditorium and two classrooms, allowing the museum to double the number of school tours it offers.

The museum’s collection of European art has been installed in one of the new galleries while the entire second floor has now been devoted to 18th- and 19th-century American art.

The museum’s expansion was designed by Boston-based Ann Beha Architects (ABA).

Pamela Hawkes, ABA’s project manager, said: “We looked at many alternatives for adding to the museum, and settled on two separate additions which preserve the prominence of the original building as well as the intimacy of its spaces.”

The construction project was managed by Harvey Construction Company while Richard Burck Associates designed the landscape architecture.