The MFAH has selected three architecture firms--Morphosis (Los Angeles and New York), Snøhetta (Oslo and New York) and Steven Holl Architects (New York and Beijing)--to submit conceptual design proposals for an expanded MFAH, according to a release. The designs would be for a building intended to house mostly post-1900 art, a parking garage and the integration of surrounding MFAH buildings and public spaces. The finalists were chosen from an initial pool of 10 international architecture firms.

"This decision marks an important step forward for the future MFAH," said Richard D. Kinder, chair of the museum's long-range planning committee, in the release. "With the collections now numbering some 63,000 objects--more than half of them works of art created after 1900--the need for a building dedicated to these expanding collections is unquestioned."

The new building will occupy a two-acre, museum-owned site next to the Isamu Noguchi-designed Lillie and Hugh Roy Cullen Sculpture Garden and to the Glassell School of Art. The site, which is currently being used as a parking lot, is across the street from the Audrey Jones Beck Building, designed by Rafael Moneo, and the Caroline Wiess Law Building, designed by Mies van der Rohe.

The concept proposals will be submitted in early 2012 and reviewed by the long-range planning committee.