510 S. 8th Street

The Project Plan

Thirty-five thousand square feet on a Center City block, replacing a derelict garage with a building the neighborhood can be proud of.

The site

Location & Design

Located at 510 S. 8th Street, between Lombard and South Streets, the proposed 35,000-square-foot building will be constructed at the heart of Center City, where a significant Jewish population resides. The new Center will house 180 students in Grades PK-8 and will also have significant space available for Jewish community programming.

The current structure is an unused, structurally compromised auto garage which is in the midst of a historic residential neighborhood. The new design by SgRA Architects will completely transform the site and bring about a state-of-the-art building that creates an aesthetic harmony with its surroundings.

The existing vacant auto garage at 510 S. 8th Street — A vacant, structurally compromised auto garage. Placeholder — Eszter to send an updated photo of the garage.

Architectural rendering of the completed Center for Jewish Life, seen from 8th Street — The Center for Jewish Life, by SgRA Architects.

Inside

Facility Features

The facility will include:

11 classrooms State-of-the-art design and technology
Auditorium Capacity for 230 occupants
Library A dedicated space for learning and research
Indoor gym Year-round athletics and assembly
2nd floor courtyard For individual reflection and outdoor gatherings
Roof deck Recreation and community programming
Kosher kitchen & cafeteria Separate dairy and meat kitchens
Parking garage For faculty

Aerial rendering of the rear of the building showing the second-floor courtyard and roof deck — The second-floor courtyard and roof deck, seen from above.

Street-level rendering looking southeast along 8th Street — 8th Street, looking southeast.

A home inside the building

The Rabbi’s Residence

Included in the design for the Center is a private residence for the Rabbi and his family. This space is not just a home, it is a vehicle for hospitality and connection. The Rabbi’s home will serve as a venue for weekly Shabbat dinners and one-on-one mentoring, offering community members a front-row seat to vibrant Jewish family life.

For many — especially those without extended family nearby — these opportunities for direct access to the Rabbi and his family will allow them to feel deeply connected to the Jewish community.

Rabbi Yochonon Goldman reading from a Torah scroll with two young children in the B’nai Abraham sanctuary — Placeholder until you can send us a photo of the Rabbi and family

Where the money goes

Capital Campaign Budget

$25,000,000 across property, professional fees, construction, furnishings, technology, security features, and the campaign itself.

The Campaign Budget Naming Opportunities

Stay connected

Campaign milestones, construction updates, and invitations to community events — a few times a year, never more.