American Jewish History Philadelphia, Pa.

PROJECT COST: $150 million

The $150 million National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia is dedicated to keeping Jewish culture alive and giving a new generation of Jews a greater appreciation of their heritage.

Intech Construction of Philadelphia broke ground on the 100,000-sq-ft museum in March 2008. It will house exhibits that educate people about how Jews used the opportunities of freedom to make diverse contributions to American life.

James S. Polshek of Polshek Partnership Architects of New York designed the five-story, steel-frame building, and Gallagher & Associates of Bethesda, Md., created the core exhibition space.

Intech topped out the building on Independence Mall in January. On the western wall, a glass façade faces the mall, expressing accessibility of the museum, the openness of America and the fragility of democracy. Terra cotta will clad the north wall, reflecting the strength of Jewish survival and the protective freedom of America.

The building includes galleries, exhibition halls, an education center and an auditorium. The museum, established in 1976, bills itself as the first and only major museum dedicated to chronicling the American Jewish experience. Its collection includes more than 20,000 artifacts.

More than 30,000 people visit the museum annually. It welcomes everyone, and officials envision it as a place for people to discover what they have in common with the Jewish experience. The museum expects to open the facility in November 2010.

Key Players

Owner: National Museum of American Jewish History, Philadelphia
Contractor: Intech Construction, Philadelphia
Architect: Polshek Partnership Architects, New York