The Contemporary Jewish Museum
Project Overview
As early as 1990, the CJM recognized the urgency for a more expansive facility to meet the growing needs and interests of the local community. To accommodate its expanding programming, the CJM is building a new home in the historic Jessie Street Power Substation. Originally designed in 1907 by Willis Polk, the building is located at 736 Mission Street in the heart of San Francisco's Yerba Buena cultural district located in the South of Market (SoMa) neighborhood near the heart of downtown San Francisco. In 1998, the CJM selected internationally renowned architect Daniel Libeskind to design the 63,000-square-foot museum, which is an adaptive reuse of the landmark structure. This is his first museum project on the West Coast.
The building will feature the unique shapes and spatial concepts that have earned Mr. Libeskind his worldwide acclaim and will make visible the relationship between the new and the old. The design preserves the character defining features of Willis Polk's 1907 landmark structure, including the brick southern facade, trusses and skylights and open space. It will also make this distinctive San Francisco building accessible to the public for the first time in its nearly 100-year history. Characteristic of Mr. Libeskind's designs for Jewish organizations, the extension to the original structure is resonant with Jewish ideas. These include utilizing the highly symbolic Hebrew letters 'chet' and 'yud,' key letters in the word "L'Chaim," meaning "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 steel.
Opening in Spring 2008, the new CJM will be a lively and welcoming space that brings together people, art, and ideas to celebrate the culture of the Jewish experience.
The Contemporary Jewish Museum is led by Director and CEO Connie Wolf. Roselyne C. Swig serves as Chair of the Board of Trustees and leads the CJM's $77 million Campaign for the New Museum with CJM Board members. The Contemporary Jewish Museum is a private, not-for-profit institution supported by members, foundation and community support, and admission revenues.
Building Overview
The Contemporary Jewish Museum will be located on Jessie Square, shared with St. Patrick's 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, and a popular destination for locals and tourists alike.
In 1998, the CJM selected internationally renowned architect Daniel Libeskind to design the 63,000-square-foot museum, which is an adaptive reuse of the historic Jessie Street Power Substation. The Jessie Street Power Substation is one of San Francisco's hidden architectural gems. Libeskind's design will create a striking contemporary space, while preserving the brick facade, which is elegantly ornamented with a dentilated cornice and cream-colored putti and garlands made of matte-glazed terra cotta. Other character defining features of this historic building such as the towering sky lights and historic crane and catwalk will also be restored.
The brick and terra cotta structure was originally constructed in 1881. After the fires of 1906, architect Willis Polk remodeled the building in Classical Revival style with a towering, arched doorway and Romanesque attributes. The Jessie Street Power Substation served as a PG&E energy utilities substation until the late 1960s. The opening of the CJM will make this historic building accessible to the public for the first time in its nearly 100-year history.
Libeskind's design includes an extension made of vibrant blue stainless steel panels. The vibrant blue steel panels are custom-produced for the CJM by Rimex Metals (UK) Lt. and fabricated by the A. Zahner Company in Kansas City, MO. The building will be the first to feature a unique cross-hatching pattern in the brushed blue stainless steel.