Slated to open next month, Houston's new Menil Drawing Institute will become the country's first art institution dedicated solely to drawing. “For many artists, historically, drawing was an end in and of itself. To have an entire building devoted to [drawing] says something to the general public," Menil director Rebecca Rabinow told the Wall Street Journal Magazine, which will be featuring an exclusive first look at the building in its October issue. 

Plans for the new museum building, designed by Johnston Marklee, were announced back in 2012 to coincide with the collection's 25th anniversary. The Los Angeles based architecture firm beat out David Chipperfield, SANAA and Tatiana Bilbao to receive the hotly sought-after commission. 

Jonston and Lee's new building sits on the 30-acre campus, meant to house the large drawing collection Dominique and John Menil have amassed over several decades. The new Drawing Institute will accompany the original Renzo Piano-designed museum, which recently underwent a renovation, reopening back in September.

Earlier this year, Archinect talked with Sharon Johnston and Mark Lee at the LA Design Festival about their work. Take a listen! 

See more photographs of the new Menil Drawing Institute and the newly renovated campus below.