Sydney based architects Johnson Pilton Walker have won an open competition for the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra, Australia's capital. The building will be the first major public building to be constructed in the Parliamentary Zone for almost 20 years, and will be only the fourth purpose built portrait gallery in the world. The 8,000 sq. m building will house around 500 portraits in a series of historic and contemporary galleries and includes a range of public and educational facilities that will see the institution become an important part of Australia’s cultural landscape. JPW’s winning design was selected from 6 short-listed finalists, including Nicholas Grimshaw & Partners, FJMT, Sean Godsell and DCM. The building will be completed late 2008.