Work is almost complete on a major new museum in Washington that will teach visitors about the Holy Bible.

The US$500m (£380.52, €423.53) Museum of the Bible in Washington, DC, has been funded by the billionaire president of arts and crafts superstore chain Hobby Lobby, Steve Green.

Opening in November, exhibitions will be spread across eight floors, boasting high-tech interactives and topped with a roof garden. Many of the biblical texts and artefacts are from Green’s own collection.

Architecture firm SmithGroupJJR have designed the museum by renovating an imposing refrigerated warehouse blocks away from the National Mall.

A new vertical infill and rooftop have been added, along with a two-storey theatre and ballroom offering panoramic views of the U.S. Capitol. At ground level, the factory's former train portal has been reopened to serve as the museum's vast entrance, while the internal train loading bay has been recast as a 40ft high main lobby arcade supported by large stone columns.

Bronze doors mark the visitor entrance, inscribed with Latin quotes from Genesis. Inside, guests will learn about the historical and cultural impact of the Bible throughout the ages as well as the history of the Good Book.

The museum is keen to be seen as non-sectarian and asks whether modern science and religion must be mutually exclusive.

“We want this museum to be enriching and engaging to all people," said museum president Cary Summers, speaking to the Guardian. "To that end, we have tapped many of the world’s leading scholars with expertise across many subjects and faith traditions, including those with Jewish, Protestant and Catholic proficiency and perspectives, to help us craft the storylines and narrative themes of this museum.”

Billed as one of the most high-tech museums ever, visitors will see digital versions of church frescoes and an extra-large screen showing real-time Bible-related data from across the world.

The Museum of the Bible opens on 17 November, three blocks away from the US Capitol.