Location
New York, NY
Completion
2003
Client
Museum of Jewish Heritage
Square Footage
82,000 SF
Architect
Kevin Roche John Dinkeloo & Associates
The Museum of Jewish Heritage - A Living Memorial to the Holocaust
Sciame was the Construction Manager responsible for this four-story East Wing expansion, which complements the 30,000 SF glass and light granite main building, tripling the existing space.
The 82,000-SF addition, curving around the existing building in Manhattan’s Battery Park City, houses state-of-the-art multimedia classrooms, a 370-seat theater with high quality acoustics, special exhibition galleries, and an education-resource center. In addition, the expansion provides a library, a 380-seat event hall equipped with kitchen facilities and pre-function space, administrative facilities with conference rooms and artifact conservation areas, and a Memorial Garden accessible from the second floor. Also integrated into the building is The Living History Center, which serves as an archive for the Steven Spielberg Survivors of the Shoah Visual History Foundation.
A bridge links the original Museum building and the new East Wing. Additionally, a landscaped terrace was incorporated into the third floor.
The Museum’s core exhibition is organized around three themes:
Jewish Life a Century Ago, The War against the Jews, and Jewish Renewal. With more that 2,000 photographs, 800 artifacts, and twenty- four original documentary films on display, the Museum uses personal stories and artifacts to present 20th Century Jewish history and the Holocaust in a context of universal truths that speak to people of all ages and backgrounds. In addition to the exhibits and programming, the Museum conducts extensive educational programs for children in the tri-state area.
The East Wing was the first new construction to begin in Lower Manhattan after the World Trade Center attack on September 11, 2001.
New York Construction’s Contractor of the Year – Looking back, 2006 was a standout year for Sciame Construction. We were honored as Contractor of the Year, a testament to our growing reputation for delivering some of New York City’s most architecturally daring and culturally significant projects.
In April 2006, Sciame Construction completed the Morgan Library and Museum Expansion, designed by Renzo Piano Building Workshop and BBB Architects. The project was led by then EVP/Division Head Joseph Mizzi, who began his career at Sciame 11 years earlier in 1995.
The following month, our founder, Frank Sciame, passed the torch of day-to-day leadership by promoting Joseph Mizzi to President of Sciame Construction, while continuing to serve as Chairman and CEO.
This leadership transition helped shape the next chapter of our story, and was memorialized in the cover photo of New York Construction, and the firm’s Contractor of the Year honor.
Thanks a Half-Billion! – At Sciame Construction, we proudly led the effort to reimagine the WTC Memorial and Museum, a project of national significance. Frank Sciame, our founder, was tasked with creating a design that honored the original vision while staying within a $500 million budget. Working closely with Mayor Bloomberg, Governor Pataki, and a team of 13 advisers, including notable figures like Jack Rudin and Robert Douglass, we developed cost-effective design options, ultimately reducing the budget from nearly $1 billion to $510 million. Our approach preserved key elements like the voids, waterfalls, and pools while optimizing infrastructure and resizing the museum. Sciame’s commitment to excellence ensured a memorial that balances beauty, dignity, and sustainability.
Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center – Though relatively small in size, the Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center was a technically complex project successfully constructed and delivered by Sciame Construction. This groundbreaking laboratory made an outsized impact on global health. It was here that Dr. David Ho pioneered the development of the revolutionary “AIDS cocktail,” a combination therapy that transformed HIV from a fatal diagnosis into a manageable condition. His groundbreaking work earned him the title of TIME magazine’s Man of the Year, underscoring the center’s profound contribution to the fight against the AIDS epidemic.
The New Victory Theater – Originally built in 1900 as The Republic, the first performing arts venue on 42nd Street, the theater was transformed into The New Victory in 1995, becoming New York’s first theater for children and families. The renovation uncovered and restored original architectural elements, added a new lobby carved from the existing structure and bedrock, rebuilt the historic staircase, and created space for much-needed restrooms. A rear wing was added for backstage access, dressing rooms, workshops, and a loading dock, while new elevators and rooftop HVAC systems were integrated to meet modern needs of the historic theater.
