Plans to undertake an "extensive" expansion and renovation of Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk, Virginia, US, have received the approval of the attraction's board of trustees.

The H&A Architects-designed project is to form part of a US$45m (£28.2m, EUR33.7m) capital programme currently in its "quiet phase" and which has also included the new Chrysler Museum Glass Studio.

Work will commence in July this year and will see 8,000sq ft (743sq m) of new gallery space being created to complement the museum's existing 210,000sq ft (19,510sq m) space.

Two wings will be constructed either side of the attraction's entrance and will allow for more works from Chrysler Museum of Art's collection to be put on display.

Meanwhile, existing galleries will be modified and reinstalled when the project is complete. It will also see the café and catering facilities relocated to the front of the building.

Sections of Chrysler Museum of Art will be shut from this summer as art works are moved, while the entire building will be closed throughout 2013 as the construction work takes place.

Museum director William Hennessey said: "Our main building may not be available to the general public during this process, but the Chrysler's mission will proceed undeterred. In fact, we plan to launch the greatest art-into-the-public effort in our history.

"Not only will the Glass Studio and Moses Myers House remain open, we will establish a satellite museum inside MacArthur Center, a destination shopping mall in downtown Norfolk."

Construction work is expected to cost US$24m (£15m, EUR18m), although the exact budget will not be known until construction bids for the project are finalised.

Details: www.chrysler.org