Ric Grenell is expected to step down Monday as president of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts as the Washington, D.C., cultural institution prepares for a sweeping renovation project that could shutter the facility for roughly two years.

Grenell, who previously served as U.S. ambassador to Germany and has been a longtime ally of Donald Trump, has led the performing arts venue during a period of planning and transition tied to the upcoming overhaul of the complex.

Matt Floca, the center’s vice president of facilities operations, is expected to succeed Grenell as president.

The leadership transition comes as the Kennedy Center moves toward one of the largest construction efforts in its history. The renovation plan calls for a full shutdown of the sprawling complex along the Potomac River while upgrades are carried out across the property.

Opened in 1971, the Kennedy Center is widely regarded as the nation’s flagship performing arts venue, hosting hundreds of events each year, including opera, ballet, theater productions, concerts, and the annual Kennedy Center Honors ceremony, celebrating lifetime achievement in the arts.

In December, the center’s board of trustees voted to rename the venue the “Trump Kennedy Center,” a move supporters said recognized Trump’s influence on the institution while critics argued it introduced political tensions into what has traditionally been a bipartisan cultural landmark.

Grenell assumed the leadership role during the early planning stages of the renovation project and has been involved in preparations for the facility’s eventual closure.

The temporary shutdown is expected to disrupt the center’s regular programming calendar, though officials have discussed relocating some performances and events to alternate venues during the construction period.

Floca, who currently oversees the facility’s operations and infrastructure, has played a central role in preparing the complex for the renovation work. His experience managing the building is expected to be important as the project moves into the construction phase.

Officials say the modernization effort is intended to update the aging facility and improve the experience for both performers and visitors, with upgrades planned for performance halls, backstage areas, technical systems, and public spaces.

Grenell’s departure marks another leadership transition for the Kennedy Center as it prepares for a major transformation while work begins on the large-scale renovation.