The Smithsonian Institution is making historic plans for both its newest and oldest museums. It just awarded a design programming contract for the National Museum of African American History and Culture, slated to open in 2015, and it’s considering an unprecedented public-private redevelopment of its crumbling Arts and Industries Building, which debuted in 1881 as America’s first “National Museum.”

On October 30, the Smithsonian announced that Freelon Bond, an association of design firms Davis Brody Bond and The Freelon Group, will conduct a $4 million, 18-month programming study for the new African-American museum. The architects held their first meeting with Smithsonian officials this week to discuss design needs.