Hebrew Institute

Located in Santiago de Chile, the Hebrew Institute provides a new K-12 addition within the Jewish community center called “Estadio Israelita”. The Hebrew Institute takes into account the local Jewish values and their three pillars: academic excellence, Jewish principles, and social values. It’s main purpose is to create a continuum in the academic teachings as well as religious integration into the next generation of the Chilean Jewish society. Academic excellence as well as Hebrew identity are the basis of the existing school curriculum. The project proposes a facility that symbolically extends it arms in blessing and protection of the children within the school and the campus at large. The main building is based on the symbol SHIN found in the Mezuzah – a symbol of protection. Its form was transformed to accommodate one courtyard for each of the teaching cycles. The School will have a direct visual connection with the Hebrew Sports Complex, providing welcoming open spaces as well as an integration with the community. Integrating “future ready” best practices for next generation schools such as flexibility, adaptability, integration with indoor and outdoor learning environments and formal and informal learning spaces informed the planning and stacking of the main structure. The project is composed of three main courtyards and a central congregation sub level that brings light and activity to the heart of the school and it’s main entrance. Security, wellness and the meditative qualities of sound and light were carefully thought through as students travel each of the four main neighborhoods. The school provides flexibility for enrollment to grow up to 1,400 students between the grades of K-12.