The new building of the National Academy of Arts in Sofia, which has caused controversy in artistic circles for the past three years, is being exhibited for the general public for the first time and can be seen until June 17 at the academy.

The exhibition aims to show off the new features of the new complex, with more than 20 different exhibits revealing the new facilities, offering a detailed and comprehensive information of the future building, the refurbishment of the existing wing, as well as the location of different departments within the completed site.

The new building features in its design 1600 sq m of solar panels perched on its roof and would fill most of the space between the Sofia University building and St Alexander Nevsky cathedral.

It envisages all interior departments of the academy to be accommodated within one expansive facility, with multifunctional halls, learning and cultural centre, offices and others. The compound will also be equipped with an underground parking lot for 300 cars.

Architect Stefan Dobrev won the initial competition to design the new building of the art academy in 2005, but the project was delayed over the lawsuits filed by the design's critics and one of the losing entrants.

Opponents argued that the glass and metal construction would clash with the existing architecture in the surrounding area, but the Supreme Administrative Court's final ruling in 2008 gave the project the green light, saying no future appeals would be allowed.

A critical civic group has since then asked Sofia city hall to refuse a building permit for the project, saying that it did not fit in the existing urban development plan. Some groups have also criticised it for the plan to build over the green area next to the existing building.