Hebrew Union College Announces BBB as Architects for New Upper West Side Campus
Hebrew Union College has selected renowned architectural firm Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners (BBB) to lead the renovations of the college’s newly acquired campus at the landmark First Battery Armory Building, located at 56 West 66th Street.
Reflecting the college’s role as a leading institution in global Reform Judaism, the new building will be designed as both a place of scholarly pursuits and clergy training as well as a community nexus. The campus will be updated to create a state-of-the-art educational hub with the technology and infrastructure for in-person, hybrid, and virtual learning capabilities, as well as for public events and art exhibitions.
“Beyer Blinder Belle brings a deep understanding of New York City and our specific needs as an institution of higher education and hub for the Reform Movement,” said Hebrew Union College President Andrew Rehfeld, Ph.D. “This new campus marks an important milestone in Hebrew Union College’s goal of creating more dynamic spaces that reflect the evolving needs of today’s learners and our broader community. I’m looking forward to working closely with the architects in creating a home that will not only better reflect our institution’s educational priorities but also provide our community with the resources needed to learn, grow, and thrive.”
Renovation plans include state-of-the-art classrooms, worship space, a beit midrash for Torah and Talmud study, a new library, and dedicated spaces for prayer and communal gatherings. Hebrew Union College is also engaging with internal and external partners to ensure the new location has the necessary space and facilities to continue welcoming the Reform community, as well as its neighbors and academic collaborators. The property, situated on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, brings Hebrew Union College back to its original New York neighborhood, immersed in a vibrant Jewish community between Central Park and Lincoln Center. The campus was purchased in February 2025 following the sale of the institution’s current building in Greenwich Village to neighbor NYU. The renovation process is scheduled to begin in December 2025 and the college expects to fully occupy the facility in January 2027.
“The selection of a visionary architecture firm marks a major step forward in creating a campus on the Upper West Side that will honor Hebrew Union College’s legacy while embracing its future,” shared Martin Cohen, Chairman of Cohen & Steers and an emeritus member of Hebrew Union College’s Board of Governors who chairs the Building Redevelopment Steering Committee. “Beyer Blinder Belle is a firm known for its thoughtful restoration of historic spaces and design, and their deep understanding of cultural and educational institutions makes them the ideal choice to support Hebrew Union College on this next chapter.”
With this partnership, Hebrew Union College joins an extensive list of religious and cultural pillars with which BBB has collaborated to infuse new life into historic buildings and campuses with creative, sustainable, and forward-looking renovations and additions. The architect’s current projects include work with 92NY, Temple Emanu-El, the Center for Jewish History, the New York Public Library, the Frick, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
“Adapting the iconic First Battery Armory into a home befitting HUC’s mission aligns with our portfolio and our own values as architects,” said Elizabeth Leber, Managing Partner of Beyer Blinder Belle. “Through planning and design, we embrace the evolution of both function and building form, so that historic buildings can remain not only treasured, but also relevant. We are very pleased to be Hebrew Union College’s partner in this exciting next chapter in the institution’s history.”
