San Francisco, CA - The Contemporary Jewish Museum (CJM) announced the "topping out" of its new facility in San Francisco's Yerba Buena cultural district.  "Topping out" is a construction term that refers to the moment when workers raise the highest beam into place at the top of the structure. Plant Construction Company, LLP and Olson Steel, along with members of The Contemporary Jewish Museum staff and Board of Trustees as well as the building team celebrated the occasion with a BBQ lunch and tour of the construction site.  The CJM's new facility, designed by architect Daniel Libeskind, is an adaptive reuse of the historic Jessie Street Power Substation.  The Museum will open in the Spring of 2008.

"We are thrilled with the building's progress and grateful for the community support that has helped us to reach this milestone," said Connie Wolf, director of The Contemporary Jewish Museum.  "Our 'topping out' brings us one step closer to our opening as a vibrant new center for connecting art, people and ideas."

Construction will continue throughout 2007.  Upcoming milestones include the unveiling of the vibrant blue stainless steel "skin" and removal of the south facade shoring braces.  The blue steel is used to create the building's extension that incorporates the highly symbolic Hebrew letters 'chet' and 'yud,' key letters in the phrase "L'Chaim," meaning "To Life!"

Construction on the CJM's new facility broke ground on July 19, 2006.  With approximately 63,000 square feet of space, the new building allows the CJM to expand its exhibitions and educational programs and bring contemporary perspectives on Jewish culture, history, art and ideas to audiences of all ages and backgrounds.  The new Museum includes increased exhibition space for the CJM to present original exhibitions, host traveling exhibitions and showcase collaborative exhibitions with Museums from around the world.  At the heart of the new facility is a large education center, which enables the CJM to offer ongoing educational programs in conjunction with its exhibitions for youth, adults and seniors.  The new facility also houses special events spaces, an auditorium, meeting rooms, café, museum store, and administrative offices.

Visit The Contemporary Jewish Museum (CJM) at : www.jmsf.org/