The National Art Center was constructed on the former site of the
University of Tokyo’s Institute of Industrial Science and is adjacent to the
National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies. The facility was established as a joint project by the
Agency for Cultural Affairs’ NACT Establishment Office and the National Museums
Independent Administrative. It was the first new national art museum built in Japan in thirty years, following the opening of the National Museum of Art, Osaka in 1977. NACT consists of one basement level and four above-ground floors, with a site area of 30,000 m² and a total floor area of about 49,830 m². The six main exhibition rooms (A–F) on the first and second floors each measure about 1,000 m² with ceilings 8m high. The facility is an "art center" and not considered a "museum", given that it does not own a collection and permanent display. The policy has been successful. In its first fiscal year in 2007, it had 69 exhibitions organized by arts groups and 10 organized by NACT. Its Monet exhibition, held between 7 April and 2 July 2007, was the second most visited exhibition of the year, not only in Japan but in the world. Architect
Kisho Kurokawa designed the building, which is characterized by its wave-like glass curtain wall façade and the concept of a “museum in a forest.” Inside, the center also houses a museum shop, library, restaurants, and cafés. This was Kurokawa’s final completed architectural project. Its graphic visual identity was developed by graphic designer Kashiwa Sato of Tokyo-based Samurai Inc. == History and milestones ==