kənstɹˈʌkʃən bɪɡˈæn ˈɔːlmoʊst ɪmˈiːdɪətli ˈæftɚ ðə pˈɜːtʃɪs ʌvðə bˈɪldɪŋ, ænd wʌz ʃɹˈaʊdᵻd ɪn sˈiːkɹᵻsi ʌntˈɪl vˈɪzɪɾɚz wɜː fˈɜːst ɐlˈaʊd ˌɪntʊ ðə mjuːzˈiəm tə sˈiː ðə wˈɜːk ɪn pɹˈɑːɡɹɛs ˌɔn nˈuː jˈɪɹz ˈiːv nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti sˈɪks.
Construction began almost immediately after the purchase of the building, and was shrouded in secrecy until visitors were first allowed into the museum to see the work in progress on New Year's Eve 1996.