The National Art Center, Tokyo is a new type of art museum. While it does not have a permanent collection, it makes use of its exhibition space, one of the largest in Japan (14,000 m²), to hold a variety of exhibitions. It also functions as an art center, educating the public and collecting, publishing, and providing information and materials related to art. The building and its design have a flexibility that allows them to be adapted to a wide range of activities and creative expressions.

NACT is a highly functional gallery facility that can hold multiple exhibitions simultaneously. The atrium of the building is characterized by a giant wavelike glass facade and features two large inverted cones. At the top of each inverted cone is, respectively, a restaurant and a cafe. Here guests can enjoy the view through the glass facade. Trees have been planted around the building to blend in with the surrounding greenery, and the atrium area is a space that links the museum to the nightlife of the Roppongi district as well as to nearby events and activities.