gallery location

121 ST E UA RT ST R E ET
S A N F R A N C I S CO , C A

The Contemporary Jewish Museum

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Cara Storm, CJM Marketing & Communications
Direct 415-344-8833 or cstorm@thecjm.org

administrative offices

2 8 2 S E CO N D ST R E E T, 2ND FLOOR
S A N F R A N C I S CO , C A 94105
415 344 8800 main
415 344 8815 fax
www.thecjm.org

THE CONTEMPORARY JEWISH MUSEUM IN SAN FRANCISCO UNVEILS

ELEGANT AND EXCITING DESIGN FOR NEW BUILDING
IN YERBA BUENA CULTURAL DISTRICT
SAN FRANCISCO, FEBRUARY 2, 2005: At a public forum at the San Francisco Redevelopment
Agency (SFRA), The Contemporary Jewish Museum (CJM) in San Francisco yesterday debuted the
revised design for its new home by internationally renowned architect Daniel Libeskind. The plans
are for an adaptive reuse of the historic Jessie Street Power Substation and a dynamic new addition.
While the Museum has been offering exhibitions in its gallery space at 121 Steuart Street for over
20 years, the proposed plans will allow The CJM the additional space necessary to expand its mission and programming. Under The CJM proposal, the long-abandoned Power Substationlocated
off Mission Street in the heart of the Citys burgeoning Yerba Buena cultural districtwill be transformed into a spectacular and memorable 60,000-square-foot cultural destination.
The SFRA public unveiling of Mr. Libeskinds revised architectural plan, originally presented
in 2000, will give new life to the Jessie Street Power Substation, which has been vacant for almost
three decades. Mr. Libeskinds San Francisco project, his rst on the West Coast, will feature the
unique shapes and spatial concepts that have earned him worldwide acclaim. The design preserves
the character dening features of Willis Polks 1907 landmark structuremost notably, its red brick
southern faade, the trusses and skylights, and the large volumes of spaceand integrates it with a
striking addition, based conceptually on the profoundly signicant Hebrew word Lchaim, or To
life! From the outside of the building, the addition will be most remarkable for its unique shape as
well as its skin: a vibrant blue metallic color.
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We are honored to be working with Daniel Libeskind, who has designed a building that will be a
landmark for Jewish culture in America, as well as a prestigious architectural attraction for the entire
San Francisco Bay Area, said Connie Wolf, Museum Director. Together, the building design and
our programming embody the Museums vision: to present contemporary perspectives and Jewish
views on culture, history, art and ideas through exhibitions and programs. As our visitors will move
between the old and new structures, the effect will be a striking juxtaposition of 20th and 21st century
architecture and, like The Contemporary Jewish Museum, a visual conversation between the past,
present and future.
Mr. Libeskind expounds, The Contemporary Jewish Museum is an institution that deals with
the continuity of themes through Jewish history, and their impact on the contemporary Jewish identity.
My design embraces the buildings history, preserving the old Power Substations industrial character
and retaining the skylights and the brick faade. In contrast and complement to this experience of history, the visitor will also experience the recongured spatial form of the new extension, showing that
history does not come to an end but opens to the future.
The Architect
Mr. Libeskind has most recently garnered international acclaim for his master plan design of
the World Trade Center project, which is a key element in the spiritual healing of the country since
9/11. Mr. Libeskinds other distinguished projects include the Jewish Museum in Berlin, Germany,
which has attracted thousands of visitors since its opening in January 1999; the Danish Jewish Museum in Copenhagen, Denmark, which opened in 2004; and the Imperial War Museum in Manchester,
England. Currently under construction are an addition to the Denver Art Museum in Denver, Colorado, and an extension to the Royal Ontario Museum in Canada. Mr. Libeskinds work is particularly
resonant with Jewish history and themes, as reected in his designs for Jewish and Holocaust-related
projects such as the Shoah Center in Manchester, England, and the Felix Nussbaum Haus in Osnabrck, Germany, in addition to the Jewish Museum in Berlin. A noted architectural theorist, Mr.
Libeskind is credited with infusing a new philosophical discourse into the realm of architecture. Mr.
Libeskind has been the recipient of numerous prizes including the Berlin Cultural Prize, the American
Academy of Arts and Letters Award for Architecture, the German Architecture Prize, the Goethe Medallion, and most recently, has been named the rst Cultural Ambassador for Architecture by the US
Department of State.
A Community Process
The newly unveiled building design is a revision of the original Libeskind design presented in
2000. According to CJM Director Wolf, the Museum Board and staff carefully examined the options
for retaining the missions integrity while adjusting the scope and scale of the planned facility and
the program to ensure long-term sustainability. Throughout, Mr. Libeskinds support of the project
has been unfaltering, and his revised design retains the original concepts and dramatic beauty while
respecting the need to create a facility that the Museum can maintain and operate within its capacity.
Notes Mr. Libeskind, The strategy for any contemporary museum is to make it distinctive
and inspiring while embodying the programmatic and operational goals of the institution. Mr. Libeskind continues, I have remained committed to this project and feel that the revisions make it an even
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more powerful building now, more sustainable and more exible. It has been a pleasure and privilege
working with the Museum team and being inspired by their clarity for the new building plans.
In the revision process, the Museum was sensitive throughout to what it means to work with
an historical building. Studio Daniel Libeskind formed a joint venture with local architectural rm
Chong Partners Architecture, known for its respect of history and its integration of sustainable design
practices into the planning, design, construction and operation of their buildings. The Museum is also
working with Architectural Resources Group and Plant Construction, two organizations with signicant experience with historic buildings, reecting the Museums commitment to bringing back to life
the integrity of a San Francisco landmark building.
As the Museum considers itself a resource to the community, it welcomed involvement from
the larger community in review and development of the building project. Given the location of the
building site in the Yerba Buena cultural district, and the buildings status as a Landmark structure, the
Museum continues to work closely with the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency to ensure compliance and progress, as well as offers on-going presentations to all appropriate and interested agencies,
including the San Francisco Heritage, the Landmarks Preservation Advisory Board, and the Jewish
Community Federation Capital Planning Committee.
Expanded Mission & Programming
With the new building, the 20-year-old Contemporary Jewish Museum continues its evolution
from a small, community-based art museum into a major cultural facility, reected by an expanded
mission.
At the heart of the Museums activities are its exhibition and educational programs, which expand its commitment to presenting Jewish perspectives on culture, history, art, and ideas to audiences
of all ages and backgrounds. The Museum will offer environmentally controlled exhibition spaces,
with the opportunity to utilize other exible areas for additional exhibition space, when needed. As
a national center, The CJM will originate exhibitions, host traveling exhibitions, and collaborate with
museums from around the world to present outstanding works of art, objects, and installations that
offer fresh perspectives and invite visitors to discover new ways of understanding traditions in a contemporary world.
Building on the ideas and issues presented in the exhibitions, there will be a full array of
educational activities and public programs for a wide range of audiences including families, students,
adults, senior citizens, and youth. A new educational center will be featured in the new facility with
classrooms, activity rooms, and informal learning areas. Programs will also transcend the physical
boundaries of the facility through the Museums award-winning website and community outreach.
Technology is integral to the Museums efforts to ensure full participation and innovative experiences.
Our goal as an institution is to create a dynamic exhibition program that continually engages
our visitors, regardless of background, in some key questions of contemporary life, explains CJM
Director Wolf. Through exhibitions and expanded educational programs, we will be creating a dynamic environment in which the 21st-century citizen will nd compelling ways to interact with a deep
and enduring tradition.
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In addition, the Museum will include a multi-purpose space with accommodations for seating
250 visitors, designed for lm/video and intimate theatrical performance, including comedy, lectures,
storytelling, discussions, and readings. The facility will also feature a museum shop and a caf with
outdoor seating facing a public plaza that will be renovated by the San Francisco Redevelopment
Agency.
Moving Forward
The current timetable for the project anticipates groundbreaking in spring 2006 and a completion of the building in late 2007. Currently viewable at the site is the construction being done by the
City on an underground parking facility. Located beneath Jessie Square and the surrounding plaza,
the garage will be available for Museum visitors.
The Contemporary Jewish Museums adaptive reuse of the Jessie Street Power Substation is
estimated at a cost of $43.1 million. An additional $32.9 million will be raised for an endowment and
startup costs.
Chair of the Board of The Contemporary Jewish Museum, Roselyne C. Swig describes,
Daniel Libeskinds design will provide visitors with multi-dimensional experiences in a unique and
extraordinary space. Presenting the design of the new building, a gift to the City, is an exhilarating
and proud moment in the Museums history, and we look forward to sharing the building and its exhibitions and programs with our extended, diverse community and national and international visitors.
In its new location opposite Yerba Buena Gardens, the Museum is poised to become a popular destination site for a myriad of visitors and an enhancement of the San Francisco cultural landscape.
The Contemporary Jewish Museum will continue to host exhibitions at its current location at
121 Steuart Street until the opening of the new building. The current exhibition, The Jewish Journey: Frdric Brenners Photographic Odyssey is on view through February 27, 2005; and Scents of
Purpose: Artists Interpret the Spice Box will be on view from May 4-September 5, 2005. For more
information, please visit The Contemporary Jewish Museum web site at www.thecjm.org.
Founded in 1984, The Contemporary Jewish Museum has presented scholarly and artistic programs that explore the
Jewish spirit and imagination for over 20 years. The Museum offers contemporary views and Jewish perspectives
on culture, history, art, and ideas, with programs reecting global ideas that tie to the past and remain relevant to
all people today. The Contemporary Jewish Museum is a private, not-for-prot institution supported by members,
foundation support, and admission revenues. The Museum gratefully acknowledges the generosity of the Simcha
Foundation, the Grants for the Arts of the San Francisco Hotel Tax Fund, anonymous donors, and the members of
The Contemporary Jewish Museum. The Museum is a beneciary of the California Arts Council and the Jewish
Community Federation of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties.

For full press kit and reproduction quality images, contact

Cara Storm, CJM Marketing & Communications at 415-344-8833 or cstorm@thecjm.org.
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The Contemporary Jewish Museum

Architects Statement: LChaim: To Life!

The design for The Contemporary Jewish Museum (CJM) provides a dynamic space for exhibitions, education, events and public gatherings and
a symbol dedicated to the revitalization of Jewish life in San Francisco
and beyond. The building, rooted in the Jewish imagination, opens itself
to the diverse contemporary currents of life and makes a fundamental
contribution to the renaissance of the Yerba Buena cultural district. The
challenge, signicance, and potential of this site and the program of The
Contemporary Jewish Museum are themselves part of the cultural process
symbolizing the foundation of a new and innovative Jewish institution in
San Franciscoan institution that will deal with continuity and identity.
The site, a complex urban center, provides the necessary energy for the
emergence of a unique form. The Contemporary Jewish Museum will
make visible the relationship between the new and the old, innovation and
tradition, celebrating the Citys past and reinvigorating it for the future. It will transform the physical energy associated with the legacy of the Power Substation to the power of human communication and imagination. Though small in
comparison to the context of the neighborhood, the building will become a metal-clad jewel like a beacon glowing into
the future. History does not come to an end but opens to the future; history is a dynamic ground.
The CJM building is based on the Hebrew word lchaim, which means to life. The two Hebrew letters of chai (with
all their symbolic, mathematical and emblematic structure) are literally the life source and the form of the Museum. In
the Jewish tradition, letters are not mere signs but are substantial participants in the story they create. Thus, the spatiality of chaia fundamental emblem of Jewish lifewill be experienced as a full dynamic movement responding to the
many levels of interpretation this word possesses. The new building is based on unprecedented spaces created by the
two letters of the chai: the chet, which provides an overall continuity for the exhibition and educational spaces, and the
yud, located on the pedestrian connector, which gives a new identity to the Power Substation. Together, these letters
and their meaning constitute a special emblem for the ongoing development of the Yerba Buena cultural district, a symbol of the importance of culture, history, art and people to a civilized society.
The Jewish experience presented in this discourse of forms will engage the Jewish community as well as the general
public with the image of a newly emerging Jewish-American identity. It will deal with the issues of imagination, creativity, vitality, and access. It is the celebration of Jewish imagination and unity within the context of an evolving and
developing history. The spaces and their programs will delve into the depths of Jewish spirit and celebrate the discovery and relevance of Jewish culture for all.
Just as the fundamental concept of The Contemporary Jewish Museum is Lchaim To Life, so does the building seek to contribute a powerful new structure, traversing the Power Substation, to the exciting Yerba Buena cultural
district of San Francisco. The discovery of the richness of Jewish culture will become an enduring magnet, offering the
public the opportunity to share a universal heritage.
Daniel Libeskind
January 2005
The Contemporary Jewish Museum www.thecjm.org (415) 344-8800

The Contemporary Jewish Museum

A unique, creative, and experienced team has been assembled for the building project that includes
Board of Trustees members, Museum professionals, three outstanding architectural rms,
project managers, and construction experts.

Connie Wolf, Director and CEO

Museum Leadership

Constance (Connie) Wolf has earned a reputation as an energetic visionary capable of pushing the boundaries of art,
culture, and museums. As director of The Contemporary Jewish Museum (CJM), with responsibility for overseeing
day-to-day operations and providing artistic vision, Ms. Wolf is challenging the notion of what a museum can be.
Before joining the Museum in January 1999, Ms. Wolf was the associate director for public programs and Helena
Rubinstein Curator of Education at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City. At the Whitney, Ms.
Wolf directed the Museums educational and public programs, community outreach and collaborations, the library
and archives, the branch museums, new technology initiatives, and the Whitneys Independent Study Program. Before joining the Whitney in 1991, Ms. Wolf served as a research associate and Warren Weaver Fellow at the Rockefeller Foundation and as a senior research assistant at Project Zero at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Ms. Wolf has also held positions at Bostons Museum of Fine Arts and the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary
Art. Ms. Wolf received her B.A. in East Asian Studies from Stanford University and was a graduate student in photography at the California Institute for the Arts.
Roselyne C. Swig, Chair of the Board of Trustees
Roselyne (Cissie) Swig has served as Board Chair since June 2003. A champion of artists and intercultural exchange, Mrs. Swig brings to The CJM an impressive breadth of experience with local, national and international
organizations and is a distinguished member and demonstrated leader of the community, with long-term involvement in arts, educational, and communal organizations.
Mrs. Swig serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the Swig Company and is a trustee of Mills College, the
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Berkeley Art Museum/Pacic Film Archive (past president), San Francisco
Art Institute (past president and recipient of honorary MFA and DFA), KQED Public Broadcasting, and NPR Foundation. Mrs. Swig is currently a national vice president of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC),
and is a founder and trustee of Partners Ending Domestic Abuse. In addition, Mrs. Swig is a member of the Collectors Committee and the Trustees Council of the National Gallery of Art, the Board of Womens Forum West/International Womens Forum, the Advisory Board of the Hadassah-Brandeis Institute, and Art Table.
Mrs. Swig served as a San Francisco Library Commissioner and as president of the San Francisco Arts Commission. A past president of the Jewish Community Federation (JCF) and of its Womens Alliance, from 1994-97, Mrs.
Swig received both the distinguished Judith Chapman Memorial Womens Leadership Award from the JCF and the
National Foundation for Jewish Culture Patron of the Arts Award in 2003. By presidential appointment by President Clinton, Mrs. Swig served in the Department of State as the Director of the U.S. Art in Embassies Program
from 1994-1997, and organized the display of loaned works of American art in embassy residencies worldwide.
Mrs. Swig is the founder of Roselyne C. Swig Artsource (1978-1994) and is an alumnus of University of California,
Berkeley.
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Joseph R. Seiger, Board of Trustees Member and Chair of the Building Committee
Elected to the Board in February 2004, and serving as Chair of the Building Committee, Mr. Seiger brings enormous talents, leadership, and expertise to the project. Mr. Seiger is Founder and President of Vintage Properties,
which is engaged in the development of residential and commercial developments in both urban and suburban locations. These developments include the nationally acclaimed 700 acre Vintage Club located in Indian Wells, California; University Circle, an ofce and hotel development in the Palo Alto area; the 205 acre mixed use Marina Village
waterfront oriented community in Alameda, California; and the vertical mixed use Golden Gateway Commons
development in San Francisco. Vintage has developed over 3,000 housing units and in excess of 3,500,000 square
feet of commercial space. From 1993-1997, Mr. Seiger served as Chairman of the Board of Catellus Development
Corporation in San Francisco, and has also served as Assistant General Counsel for San Francisco Redevelopment
Agency. Mr. Seiger holds a J.D from University of Michigan Law School and an LLM from George Washington
University Law School.

Design Team
Daniel Libeskind, Architect with Chong Partners Architecture, A Joint Venture
Daniel Libeskind, Architect
A critically acclaimed and internationally renowned architect, theorist, and lecturer, Daniel Libeskind is currently
one of the worlds most inuential gures in architecture. In February 2003, Mr. Libeskind was awarded what is
presently the most well-known building project worldwide: the master plan design for Ground Zero and the World
Trade Center site in New York. The spectacular design for The Contemporary Jewish Museum is Mr. Libeskinds
rst project on the West Coast.
Mr. Libeskind was born to a Jewish family in postwar Poland in 1946 and became an American citizen in 1965.
After an early career as a virtuoso musician in Israel and New York, Mr. Libeskind studied architecture at Cooper
Union in New York and history and philosophy at the University of Essex in England before assuming leadership
of the architecture department at Cranbrook Academy in Bloomeld Hills, Michigan. Mr. Libeskind has held guest
chairs at Yale University, the University of Chicago, the University of Pennsylvania, and the University of London.
Mr. Libeskind is credited with introducing a new critical discourse into the eld of architecture and has become an
internationally acclaimed gure in architectural practice and urban design.
Mr. Libeskinds work is resonant with Jewish history and ideas, as reected in his designs for Jewish and Holocaust-related projects such as the completed Jewish Museum in Berlin and the Felix Nussbaum Haus (Osnabrck,
Germany). Other recent cultural institutions Mr. Libeskind has designed and completed include the Imperial War
Museum in Manchester, England and the Danish Jewish Museum in Copenhagen, Denmark. A selection of Mr.
Libeskinds other cultural projects currently in progress include the extension to the Denver Art Museum in Colorado, the extension to the Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, the Maurice Wohl Center at Bar-Ilan University in
Tel-Aviv, and the Grand Canal Performing Arts Centre and Galleria in Dublin, Ireland. Mr. Libeskind is the recipient of numerous awards, including the American Academy of Arts and Letters Award for Architecture, the
Berlin Cultural Prize, the German Architecture Prize, the Goethe Medallion, and most recently was appointed
the U.S. Department of States rst Cultural Ambassador for Architecture.

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Chong Partners Architecture

Chong Partners Architecture is a professional design rm founded in 1976, providing services in programming,
planning, architecture, and interior design. It is a community-based practice working in the healthcare, academic and public realm, achieving exceptional architecture by crafting buildings that are appropriate to their
place and purpose, respectful of history and mindful of the future. Committed to green design and to identifying solutions that reduce environmental impact and help to promote the well-being of all those who interact
with a building, Chong Partners Architecture has assembled a team of LEED accredited professionals who
integrate sustainable design practices into the planning, design, construction and operation of their buildings.
Areas of expertise include municipal buildings, educational facilities, technology and healthcare centers, and
corporate interiors. The staff of 180, located in ofces in San Francisco, Sacramento, San Diego and London,
is experienced in both new construction and renovation projects. Clients of Chong Partners Architecture have
included the University of California System, including San Francisco, Santa Cruz, Berkeley, and Davis Medical Center; Stanford University; Kaiser Permanente; Williams-Sonoma; Blue Shield of California; and the City
of San Francisco. Joining forces with Renzo Piano Building Workshop, the rm is designing the new home
for the historic California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park. Recent awards include: Modern Healthcare Design Award of Excellence, Rumsey Tribal Community and Wellness Center (2004); AIA Central Valley
Chapter Honor Award, LEED Gold certication under the U.S. Green Building Councils Commercial Interiors Pilot Program, Chong Partners Architecture San Francisco Ofce (2004); AIA East Bay Honor Award for
Architecture, Faireld Transportation Center and Parking Structure (2003).
Gordon H Chong, FAIA, the founding partner of Chong Partners Architecture, is a licensed architect with more
than 30 years of professional experience. Since founding the rm, Mr. Chong has participated actively in public service and in professional activities at all levels. Mr. Chong served as the 2002 National President of The
American Institute of Architects and has served as a member of the AIA Board of Directors since 1997, leading
the Redenition of the Profession task force. As the 1996 president of AIA California Council, Mr. Chong
directed the development and publication of the AIAs Handbook on Project Delivery. Mr. Chong was admitted to the College of Fellows in 1994, and is an outspoken advocate on the importance of design and expanding the role of the architect.
Sam Nunes, AIA- Partner, directs the municipal studio and has been responsible for the management and design of the majority of the rms work with cities and counties throughout California-- over 80 projects in the
past 20 years. These buildings have been recognized through awards and honors for reinforcing urban vitality
and promoting the distinct character of the communities they serve. Mr. Nunes is also a highly skilled manager
of the community participation process, a critical component of many of Chong Partners Architectures most
successful designs. Mr. Nunes is a registered architect in the State of California, and a member of the League
of California Cities, California Redevelopment Association, and the Urban Land Institute. Mr. Nunes earned
his Bachelor of Architecture from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo.
Architectural Resources Group
Architectural Resources Group (ARG) is an architectural rm specializing in architecture, planning, historic
preservation, and conservation, as well as new design in historic settings. The rm has provided services for
the continued use of over 300 designated historic structures and districts throughout California and the western
United States. Representative clients include the cities of San Francisco and Pasadena, the Port of San Francisco, Stanford University, California State Parks, and the National Park Service. ARG is the recipient of the
American Institute of Architectures 2005 Honor Award for Architecture for their work on the Conservatory of
Flowers in Golden Gate Park.
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Bruce D. Judd, FAIA, founding principal of ARG, has led the historic preservation component in the transforming of the Jessie Street Power Substation into a home for The CJM. Mr. Judd is a Board of Trustees
member and an advisor emeritus for the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Mr. Judd is also a Presidentappointed council member of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, the federal agency that oversees
and advises on national preservation matters and served on the White House Millennium Committee to Save
Americas Treasures. In addition, Mr. Judd is a member of the board of directors of San Francisco Architectural Heritage, and past president; has served as a board member and vice president of the California Preservation
Foundation; and has been a chairman of the National AIA Committee on Historic Resources.
KPM Consulting- Project Manager
KPM Consulting serves as Project Manager of the development process, including design and construction.
KPM Consulting is an outstanding Project Management and Development Services rm Headquartered in
Berkeley, California. The rm and its employees have distinguished themselves in the Bay Area real estate
community as a team of talented individuals with the necessary depth and breadth in real estate, design/engineering, and construction to successfully develop complex projects from inception through occupancy.
KPMs principal is Jim Karam, who has over 20 years experience leading large-scale, complex building
projects in the Bay Area construction and real estate industries. Mr. Karams experience includes managing all
aspects of the construction and development process including land acquisition, entitlements, design, construction and occupancy of commercial and institutional buildings. Mr. Karams projects include Pixar Animation
Studios and Skywalker Ranch for LucasFilm Ltd. Mr. Karam has a B.S. in Civil Engineering from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and an M.S. in Construction Management from UC Berkeley.
Plant Construction Company, L.P.
Founded in 1947, Plant has grown to be a leader in the construction industry by striving for perfect execution
of the work entrusted to it, including preconstruction services, construction management and general contracting services. Plants expertise includes hotel projects, retail shell and retail tenant interiors, ofce projects, private schools, churches, commercial facilities construction, seismic bracing of major buildings, and restoration
of important historic structures. While the majority of this work has been performed in Northern California,
Plant has recently completed projects in 12 states and in Canada. A rm of over 80 salaried staff and approximately 200 craftspeople in the eld, Plant has consistently been ranked among the Top 400 General Contractors nationwide by Engineering News-Record magazine. Winner of numerous individual project awards,
Plant takes special pride in having received a special Craftsmanship Award from the California Chapter of the
American Institute of Architects, and has received numerous accolades from the architectural community and
the general public for its work on the preservation of San Franciscos historic Ferry Building.
Craig Allison, Executive Vice President of Plant Construction Company, L.P. and co-general partner of the
company, has worked on unusual and technically demanding projects in all areas of the country, and is leading
Plants pre-construction efforts for The Contemporary Jewish Museum. Mr. Allison has been in the construction industry since 1973, and with Plant since 1981. Mr. Allison was named Vice President in 1985, and a
Principal in 1990. Mr. Allison received a Masters degree in Architecture from the University of California,
Berkeley. In addition to construction industry involvement through Plant, Mr. Allison sits on the board of San
Francisco Architectural Heritage, a leading historic preservation organization in the San Francisco Bay Area.

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The Contemporary Jewish Museum

Overview

The New Building in Detail

The Contemporary Jewish Museums (CJM) design for the adaptive reuse of the historic Jessie Street
Power Substation will provide a new and sustainable home for the Museums expanded mission of presenting contemporary perspectives and Jewish views on culture, history, art and ideas through exhibitions and
programs. It will also make a distinctive San Francisco building accessible to the public for the rst time in
its nearly 100-year history.
Designed by world-renowned architect Daniel Libeskind, the building will be a striking contemporary
space: a physical expression of the contemporary relevance of the Museum and its mission. The drama of
the power substation remains, with its unique volumes of space and the restoration of the original skylights
and trusses. These historic elements intersect in a lively way with the elements of the new design. Characteristic of Mr. Libeskinds designs for Jewish organizations, the extension to the original structure is resonant with Jewish ideas, specically utilizing the highly symbolic Hebrew letters chet and yud, key letters
in the word LChaimTo Life!
Clad with luminous blue panels, drawing the eye to the center of Jessie Square, the building will be an elegant beacon, both reecting tradition and inspiring innovation.

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Location The Contemporary

Jewish Museum will be located
on Jessie Square, shared with St.
Patricks Church and the future
home of the Mexican Museum.
The CJM will add to the diverse,
exciting and rapidly growing
Yerba Buena cultural district
located in the South of Market
Street (SoMa) neighborhood near
the heart of downtown San Francisco.

Ground Level Approximately 27,000 square feet

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LOBBY Entering through the main

doors off of Jessie Square in the Yerba
Buena cultural district, visitors to The CJM
will encounter the look and feel of an early-twentieth-century industrial edice. For
the rst time in the buildings history, the
public will experience from the interior the
thick brick walls and towering skylights
that architect Willis Polk created in 1907
for both dramatic impact and practicality.
The space, and will also serve as a forum
for special events hosted by the Museum.
A Museum shop and caf will be located
adjacent to the lobby. An impressive 200 feet long, the lobby will feature a 30-35 foot ascension to the
buildings skylights, offering a rich initial experience.
FIRST FLOOR GALLERY The ground
level will include a 2,500 square foot exhibition space environmentally controlled for
temperature and humidity to safeguard rare
and valuable artwork and objects. Exhibitions will engage audiences of all ages
and backgrounds in exploring key Jewish
values and beliefs. As a national center,
The CJM will originate exhibitions, host
traveling exhibitions, and collaborate with
museums from around the world to present outstanding works of art, objects, and
installations that offer fresh perspectives
and invite visitors to discover new ways of understanding traditions in a contemporary world.
EDUCATION CENTER With the expansion of the Museum, the new facility will house a vibrant education center that will bring together culture, history, art, and ideas. Located at the core of the building, the
Education Center will mirror the instrumental role that education plays in Judaism and in the Museum.
The Museum will hold 3,500 square feet of education space and classrooms, allowing The CJM to signicantly expand its array of enriching educational programs for students, teachers, community members,
artists, families, youth, adults, and senior citizens. Programs will include professional staff development
workshops for teachers, tours of exhibitions for schools, after-school activities for youth, and programs for
families. At the new Museum, visitors will have the opportunity to meet distinguished artists and discuss
their work. Outside the Educational Center, an open resource area will include a small exhibition area and a
relaxing, living-room-like atmosphere with tables, comfortable seating, computers, and an array of resource
materials to allow visitors to meet others and enjoy learning about art.
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MULTI-PURPOSE ROOM/AUDITORIUM The 3,300 square foot multi-purpose room will be designed
to accommodate lm/video and intimate theatrical performance, including comedy, lectures, discussions,
and readings. The room will have the potential for either a 250-seat theater, via a retractable seating system, or an open, unstructured space. The space will also accommodate approximately 300 people for a
seated dinner event.
MUSEUM SHOP The 2,000 square foot retail store at The CJM will support the educational and artistic
mission of the Museum by offering a comprehensive selection of scholarly and popular publications. The
museum shop will also provide a special focus on gifts, toys, interpretive art, and an excellent collection of
Judaica. In addition to an entrance off the lobby, the shop will be accessible via an entrance off the newly
created pedestrian lane connecting Market and Mission Streets.
CAF The Caf will occupy 2,100 square feet of the Museums ground oor, with welcoming indoor
seating in a portion of the historic Power Substation as well as limited outdoor seating on the Jessie Square.
The Caf will be open during Museum hours, as well as before and during selected events.
CATERING KITCHEN The 750 square foot catering kitchen will accommodate the Cafs needs, as well
as catering needs for special events and rental events
Second Floor - Approximately 20,000 square feet

A dramatic staircase will lead visitors to the Museums second oor. While exploring this level, visitors
will continue to experience the intersection of the historical elements of the Power Substation with th

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The Contemporary Jewish Museum www.thecjm.org (415) 344-8800

A dramatic staircase will lead visitors to the Museums second oor. While exploring this level, visitors
will continue to experience the intersection of the historical elements of the Power Substation with the new
design.
SECOND FLOOR GALLERY In addition to the exhibition space on the rst oor,
visitors will enjoy the unique surroundings
of the 7,000 square foot second oor gallery
spaces, which feature the drama of the original Power Substation trusses and skylights
intersecting with the forms of the new design.
The outcome will be a physical embodiment
of The CJMs mission, bringing together
tradition and innovation; past, present, and
future. As with the gallery space on the rst
oor, this gallery will be environmentally
controlled for temperature and humidity to
safeguard rare and valuable artwork and objects, allowing it to also host a variety of exhibitions and collections on loan from other institutions.
SPECIAL EVENTS YUD ROOM The
second oors west end will culminate in a
dramatic 2,200 square foot space reaching
at its peak some 60 feet high, symbolically
representing the Hebrew letter yud. This
mystical letter begins the Hebrew words for
Jew, G-d, and Jerusalem, and the ascending, dynamic movement up to the light-lled
yud shape inspires a compelling space for
celebrations, spirit and thought. Here, visitors will enjoy programs, special events, and
artist installations, as well as views from the
distinctive window designs.
The unique window design layout, as with
the building concept, takes its inspiration
from letters in a Hebrew word, in this case
the word pardes, or orchard. Referring to

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The Contemporary Jewish Museum www.thecjm.org (415) 344-8800

Kabbalistic practice of discovering in each word its four distinct levels of meaning: literal, allusive, allegorical, and mystical, the light in the yud space is inuenced by a tradition that embraces the multiple
points of view and diversity of meaning afforded by literal and symbolic windows.
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES Approximately 4,500 square feet of space will serve as the administrative ofces of the Museum staff, with an additional 2,650 square feet for future expansion potential.
Lower Level/Basement - Approximately 11,000 square feet
The Lower Level includes a loading dock, shared with the Marriott and the Four Seasons hotels; art/exhibition storage; building storage; retail storage; mechanical & electrical rooms; and other security and
maintenance ofces.

Images not for reproduction or distribution without the express permission of

The Contemporary Jewish Museum.
For full press kit and reproduction quality images, contact
Cara Storm, CJM Marketing & Communications at 415-344-8833 or
cstorm@thecjm.org.

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The Contemporary Jewish Museum www.thecjm.org (415) 344-8800

The Contemporary Jewish Museum

Building Fact Sheet

The Museum & Mission

The Contemporary Jewish Museum (formerly The Jewish Museum San Francisco) presents contemporary perspectives and Jewish views on culture, history, art and ideas. Founded in 1984, the Museum has a distinguished
history of presenting scholarly and artistic exhibitions and programs that engage and sustain audiences of all ages
and backgrounds through dialogue and collaboration.
The Building Project
To accommodate its expanded mission and programming, the 20-year-old Contemporary Jewish Museum will be
moving to a new home in the historic Jessie Street Power Substation, originally designed in 1907 by Willis Polk,
and located in the heart of San Franciscos Yerba Buena cultural district. The building schematic design, presented in February 2005, is a creation by world renowned architect Daniel Libeskind, and is an adaptive reuse of
the landmark structure. Characteristic of Mr. Libeskinds designs for Jewish organizations, the extension to the
original structure is resonant with Jewish ideas, specically utilizing the highly symbolic Hebrew letters chet
and yud, key letters in the word LChaimTo Life!
Facility
Approximately 60,000-square-foot facility, compliant with ADA regulations and fully accessible for visitors with
special needs, the new facility will include:
Exhibition Spaces
9500 Sq Ft
Museum Shop
2000 Sq Ft
Education Center
3500 Sq Ft
Main Lobby
2500 Sq Ft
Multi-Purpose Room/Auditorium
3300 Sq Ft
Administrative Ofces
4500 Sq Ft
Special Events/Program Space
2200 Sq Ft
Expansion Potential
2650 Sq Ft
Caf
2100 Sq Ft
Capital Campaign
The Museum is currently conducting a comprehensive Capital Campaign with a working goal of
$75 million, which includes the building costs, endowment and operations.
Estimated cost: $43.1 million for Museum facility; $32.9 million for endowment and startup costs.
Building Timeline
Spring 2006- Groundbreaking
Late 2007- Construction Completion
Museum Leadership
Constance (Connie) WolfDirector and CEO
Roselyne C. SwigChair, Board of Trustees
Joseph SeigerMember, Board of Trustees, and Chair, Building Committee
Building Team
Daniel Libeskind, Architect with Chong Partners, A Joint Venture
Architectural Resources Group, Historic Preservation Architects
KPM Consulting
Plant Construction Company, LLP

The Contemporary Jewish Museum www.thecjm.org (415) 344-8800

The Contemporary Jewish Museum

Building Images

Image 01

Image 02

Image 03

Image 04

The images provided in this document are for reference only and not for press reproduction. For full press kit
and reproduction quality images, contact Cara Storm, CJM Marketing & Communications at 415-344-8833
or cstorm@thecjm.org.

The Contemporary Jewish Museum

Building Images

Image 05

Image 06

Image 07

Image 08

The images provided in this document are for reference only and not for press reproduction. For full press kit
and reproduction quality images, contact Cara Storm, CJM Marketing & Communications at 415-344-8833
or cstorm@thecjm.org.

The Contemporary Jewish Museum

Building Images

Image 09

Image 10

Image 11

Image 12

The images provided in this document are for reference only and not for press reproduction. For full press kit
and reproduction quality images, contact Cara Storm, CJM Marketing & Communications at 415-344-8833
or cstorm@thecjm.org.

The Contemporary Jewish Museum

Building Images

Image 13

Image 14

Image 15

Image 16

The images provided in this document are for reference only and not for press reproduction. For full press kit
and reproduction quality images, contact Cara Storm, CJM Marketing & Communications at 415-344-8833
or cstorm@thecjm.org.

The Contemporary Jewish Museum

Building Images

Image 17

The images provided in this document are for reference only and not for press reproduction. For full press kit
and reproduction quality images, contact Cara Storm, CJM Marketing & Communications at 415-344-8833
or cstorm@thecjm.org.

SITE MAP

Future home of

Marriott Hotel
Future location of Yerba Buena
BART Station
Future location of Yerba Buena Lane
(Pedestrian Walkway)
Four Seasons Hotel
St. Patricks Church
Jessie Square
Future home of the Mexican Museum
Argent Hotel
California Historical Society
Sony Metreon
Esplanade Garden
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
Future home of the
St. Regis Hotel & Museum of
the African Diaspora
San Francisco
Museum of Modern Art
W Hotel San Francisco

N O T D R AW N T O S C A L E

3
4
5
6
7
8
MARKET ST

9
10

11

12
13

STEVENSON ST

14

1
2
6

10

15
16

MISSION ST

The Contemporary
Jewish Museum

14
12

13
15

11
16

THIRD ST

FOURTH ST

H O WA R D S T

The Contemporary
Jewish Museum
415 344-8800
www.thecjm.org