JCC Ventures Ltd has appointed BAM Construction to build London's first purpose-built Jewish Community Centre.

BAM won the main construction contract for this £25 million state-of-the-art building project at the beginning of August and has already started work on site.

Designed by award-winning architects, Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands, the building – which will be open to people of all faiths - draws its inspiration from successful examples from around the world, in particular the Jewish Community Centre in Manhattan’s Upper West Side in New York.

-- Advertisement --

The scheme, located on the Finchley Road in Hampstead, North London, comprises a 35,000 sq ft building housing the Community Centre, as well as a 10-storey residential building containing 14 two-bed apartments, and an external piazza.

The Community Centre will include a large multi-purpose hall, a screening room, a cafe/bar/freelance hub, a resource centre, drama/dance studios, an arts and crafts workshop, meeting and learning rooms, a demonstration kitchen, offices and a full daycare nursery.

The building is set back from the main road by a sheltered, landscaped courtyard; the main entrance is reached by a bridge from the Finchley Road which spans across this semi public space.

BAM is scheduled to finish the construction in early 2013. A ground breaking ceremony, to be attended by Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, is being held in early October.

BAM's Project Manager, Simon Gray, said: "We are delighted to bring our experience and expertise to this important project to provide state-of-the-art facilities for the Jewish and local communities in North London."

(CD/BMcC)