Jewish Children’s Museum Nabs Top Honors in Brooklyn Architectural Awards

The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce presented the Jewish Children’s Museum with the Building Brooklyn Award a presentation ceremony on July 18th at the Brooklyn Museum of Art. The JCM won in the Arts and Culture category. The award honors recently completed construction projects that possess a unique architectural appearance, among many other criteria, that have a positive effect on the borough’s economy and quality of life.

At the ceremony attended by over 550 of friends and supporters of the awardees, BCoC President Ken Adams spoke about the great impact the JCM has had, and continues to have, on Brooklyn. He said he was excited about all of the winning projects and their distinctive designs, but that the museum is unique in that it combines an attractive façade with six stories of important educational tools that are bridging a cultural gap in the community.

Accepting the award on behalf of the JCM were executive director of the museum Rabbi Yerachmiel Benjaminson and director of operations Rabbi Sholom Ber Baumgarten. After accepting the first award of the night, both rabbis were met with a steady stream of well-wishers. The many prominent architects, builders and bankers in attendance, all of whom play important roles in Brooklyn business, expressed their admiration for the work of the JCM.

Mr. Adams then presented awards to Mr. Joe Ruocco of Gwathmey Siegel and Associates Architects Inc., the firm who designed the museum, and Mr. Tom Heaphy who accepted on behalf of H & H Builders.

Rabbi Benjaminson said of the award “We are excited to be recognized in this way and I hope people will continue to recognize the importance of institutions that provide children with multi-cultural awareness. Understanding those around you, different as they may seem, is the only sure way to tolerate and ultimately respect them.”