First Floor
An accessible entrance leads to a dramatic two-story atrium and reception space that will be open to the public and feature a 300-seat auditorium, a café with indoor/outdoor seating, meeting rooms and the Museum Store. The reception area becomes one of the largest entertainment spaces in the city, seating as many as 1,200 for dinner.

The first floor offers an Education Center featuring an interactive space for children, art class studios, and student exhibition space. Museum operations are improved with a loading dock, conservation workspace, a freight elevator and security control room.

Second Floor
Several areas from the permanent collection are featured on the second floor, including master drawings, photography and other works on paper, ethnographic materials and ceramics. One gallery will be dedicated to mid-career emerging California artists. A porch overlooks Crocker Park and the Atrium Gallery overlooks the new Courtyard.

The second floor of the Art Gallery Building will serve as Crocker Family and Museum History Galleries, sharing the stories behind the longest operating public art museum in the west. The Ballroom remains as an architectural centerpiece, featuring 19th-century artworks. 

Staff offices, art storage and collection care areas area also located on the second floor.

Third Floor
The third floor is dedicated to galleries and includes key permanent collection areas of California, European and Asian art. Traveling exhibitions will be located on the third floor in 12,000-sq. ft. (four times the space in the existing buildings).