An $18-million fundraising campaign is under way and will accelerate after the groundbreaking. The money will be used for the construction and some operating costs. The two-story building will measure about 26,000 sf, and will include a basement level and a rooftop garden, a MCA spokesman tells GlobeSt.com.

After public presentations by six leading international architectural firms in 2004, a committee selected Adjaye to design the new MCA, which will significantly contribute to the revitalization of Lower Downtown, in particular the Central Platte Valley Riverfront district near the historic Union Station.

The new building, which sits on property donated by developer Mark Falcone and Ellen Bruss, will be about 28% larger than museum officials originally planned, to take advantage of the entire site. Falcone is principal of locally based Continuum Partners. Among other things, Continuum is developing the $750-million Belmar project, which serves as Lakewood's downtown. On a smaller scale, he is developing the Art House townhome development in the Central Platte Valley, next to the MCA. M.A. Mortenson Co. will construct the building.