Key objectives of this £20 million project were to resolve the Museum's orientation, display and circulation problems. Covering a previously unexploited courtyard with Europe's largest freespan glazed roof creates a new central 'square', unifying the layout and producing clear and legible routes through the Museum. A new main entrance, galleries, shop and reception areas are located below the podium level of the 'square', which in turn creates 'streets' along the base of the newly revealed and restored courtyard facades. Within the surrounding building, ten new galleries were created and all levels made fully accessible to the disabled. The greatly enlarged Museum was opened by the Queen in May 1999.