This 5,000 square-foot renovation and rooftop addition includes a new Beit Midrash—a library and meeting space for the study of the Talmud. The first Beit Midrash for women in the U.S., the space also holds an Ark of the Torah for daily prayer. The wooden ark is surrounded by glass panels with an interlayer of suspended Gingko leaves; the Gingko is a hardy tree, indigenous to New York City, and one of the few species that has distinct male and female varieties. The illuminated rooftop addition gives the college a strong presence in the community and is a welcoming space for study and prayer.
The lobby renovation includes a new entrance porch, classrooms and event space. The recessed entrance and facade give the college a new identity while integrating it into the life of the street. The new classrooms and event space are separated from the lobby by an electronic glass wall that can be switched from transparent to opaque to enhance privacy. Bamboo wall panels, terrazzo floors and fritted glass combine to create a warm and inviting entrance for the school.
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