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The National Gallery has revealed a six strong shortlist of design teams picked for the next stage of its high-profile contest to deliver a suite of capital projects to mark its 200^th birthday in 2024.

Stirling Prize winners David Chipperfield Architects, Caruso St John and Witherford Watson Mann are joined by Asif Khan, David Kohn Architects and Selldorf Architects for the project, which includes reconfiguring the entrance to Venturi Scott Brown鈥檚 grade I-listed Sainsbury Wing.

The National Gallery launched its call for entries in February with a brief that also includes upgrading visitor facilities and a new research centre focused on art history, digital humanities, conservation, and heritage science.

Another element of the project involves 鈥渞eimagining鈥� the public realm outside the Sainsbury Wing and along the northern edge of Trafalgar Square, outside the gallery鈥檚 main Wilkins 黑洞社区.

The project鈥檚 anticipated construction budget is 拢25m to 拢30m, with the design contract worth 拢3.5m.

Gallery director Gabriele Finaldi said the competition shortlist had been expanded from an anticipated five teams to six because of the high quality of submissions that had been received.

鈥淚t was not an easy task to reach the shortlist but we are confident that we have chosen six teams that will produce a range of different approaches to excite and inspire us,鈥� he said.

鈥淭his is a significant moment in the development of the National Gallery as we look forward to the recovery of our arts and cultural institutions, our city and our country.鈥�

Competition organisers Malcolm Reading Consultants said shortlisted teams would now be required to submit an initial tender, attend negotiation workshops, submit a final tender and then be interviewed by the selection panel. A decision on which team will be appointed is expected in July.

Malcolm Reading said no design work would be required as part of the selection process and that shortlisted teams would be eligible for some expenses.