Email spertusPR@spertus.edu or call Susan Baum, Communications Associate, at 312.322.1724 if you need assistance or further information.
Spertus in the News
Spertus unveils new "21st Century building"
Construction to begin in a month
By FELICIA DECHTER
Pioneer Press Skyline
November 3, 2005
© 2005 Pioneer Press Skyline
Let there be light!
That is one of the main concepts architects considered when designing the new, South Loop-based Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies, which broke ground earlier this month on its new state-of-the-art facility at 610 S. Michigan Avenue.
The Spertus logo is a flame accompanied by the biblical phrase, yehi or - let there be light - symbolizing the Spertus commitment to learning through education and the arts.
Its upcoming, 140,000-sqaure-foot, mixed-use facility should easily allow for much of that.
"It's going to be fantastic, we're very excited about it," said Howard A. Sulkin, the institute's president and CEO. "There's a long list of change I'm looking forward to."
Such as having the correct and vital temperature and humidity for the institute's massive, rare collection of Torahs, menorahs, paintings, tapestries, books, and maps of the Holy Land from across the world. There's also a Kosher café planned, and a new shop, and the addition of contemporary Jewish information, all expected to be in its new home by 2007.
Still left, however, is the task of raising an addition $13 million. So far the institute has raised $42 of the $55 million necessary, "a major achievement," Sulkin said.
Spertus, founded in 1924 as the College of Jewish Studies, invites people of all backgrounds and ages to explore the Jewish faith. It is the official source for the State of Illinois for archives of the Jewish people, Sulkin said.
The institute’s current facility at 618 S. Michigan Ave. no longer meets its needs and has been sold to the expanding Columbia College.
Architect Mark Sexton – a principal with the River North-based architectural firm Krueck & Sexton, who designed the building with his partner, Ron Krueck - said the Columbia purchase creates, "a great area of education, students, and knowledge.
"We applaud that . . . it's fundamental to the growth of the city," Sexton said.
He described the new Spertus as a place that will house a museum, a 400-seat auditorium for public programs, lectures, small musicals, films, etc., a substantial library (there's only one in the nation with a bigger Judaica collection), a college, and an interactive family and children’s center, designed by Redmoon Theater artistic director Jim Lasko.
"It's very progressive and innovative," Sexton said. "Their motto is, 'Come learn us with, through education will be understanding, and the world will be a better place.' The building is designed to portray that progressive idea."
Sexton said his biggest challenge was designing a building that would fit with the historic Michigan Avenue streetwall running from Randolph Street to Roosevelt Road. Because the site was one of the last remaining empty lots along the historically preserved avenue, he thought the city would require a historic-type building.
"We didn't intend to do anything like that," Sexton said of the building, which will feature folded glass with gem-like planes that will glow in the dark. "We wanted a 21st Century building, portraying Spertus' outlook, not living in the past, but springing from the past."
Construction will begin in about a month, Sexton said, and Spertus will stay open until the new building is ready.
Community leaders say the plan has drawn applause among neighbors, and called the design "a hit."
"We have observed that there are at least two approaches to designing new buildings in an historic district – blend in, or stand out – both are effective when well done," said Leslie Sturino, president of the South Loop Neighbors.
"The new Spertus Institute stands out - it sparkles like a new diamond in a gold setting. Yet its size and scale fit beautifully in the Michigan Avenue streetwall."
Bob O’Neill, president of the Grant Park Conservancy, said what impressed him is the design’s integration of Grant Park.
"All the glass overlooks the park and you see green, nature . . . they spent a lot of time making sure the park became part of it," O'Neill said, adding he hopes Columbia will redo the façade of the old building.
"Spertus is a really important organization and this building helps it even more so. We're very excited about it."
return to top