As the three-month-long renovations for the Great Hall comes to a close, the National Building Museum prepares to reopen on March 13, 2020. The reopening will kick off a yearlong 40th anniversary celebration at the museum. The celebration will begin with a new exhibition: Alan Karchmer: The Architects' Photographer, which examines the work of Karchmer and the overall practice of architectural photography. Karchmer's photos will include the work of various renowned architects and organizations, including Santiago Calatrava, Tadao Ando, Gensler, and TEN Arquitectos among many others.

The renovation allowed the museum to convert its second-floor classrooms into a new exhibition space that will house The Architects' Photographer exhibition. A new ground level Ticketing Gallery will also be introduced. "We used this opportunity to make some long-planned changes to the Museum’s layout," said Chase Rynd, executive director in a statement. "By moving most exhibitions to the second floor and creating a new Visitor Center, we think visitors will have an easier time orienting themselves—and understanding our mission."