Work has began on an expansion project which will more than double the size of the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (MCASD) in California.

Designed by Selldorf Architects, the expansion will include the renovation of the existing 35,000-sq ft (3,252sq m) original complex, which was initially designed by renowned California architect Irving Gill.

The museum’s entrance will also be reorientated, which has caused some controversy in architectural circles. The original entrance was designed by Venturi Scott Brown Associates (VSBA) in 1996.

In response to the criticism, Annabelle Selldorf of Selldorf Associates told Architects Newspaper: “Our task was to add an entrance that people could find.

"Not everybody thought we should be so determined to keep the VSBA-designed portions, but we are doing a lot of work to have those elements retain a significant presence in the reinvigorated building."

The new campus will be named after philanthropists Joan and Irwin Jacobs and is expected to cost around US$95m (€84m, £74.4m) to complete. The museum will reopen in 2021.