NEW YORK CITY—The Whitney Museum is heading back downtown. In avant-garde fashion befitting a New York cultural institution, the museum broke ground yesterday on its new building, a Renzo Piano-designed structure that will rise between Gansevoort and West streets, nestled against the southern entrance to the High Line. Some $508 million has been raised toward the $720-million total cost for the building’s construction.

Breaking Ground, a commissioned piece by choreographer Elizabeth Streb, kicked off the groundbreaking itself. Streb stood beneath a barrel filled with dirt, which emptied onto her head during the performance.

The Whitney will move from its current home at 945 Madison Ave. to the new building upon its completion--expected some time in 2015. The Metropolitan Museum of Art has partnered with the Whitney to lease the landmark Breuer building, where it will provide exhibitions and educational programs, according to a release.