The Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg, Harrisburg, PA
The Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg is transforming Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education’s former Dixon University Center into the new and forever home for Jewish Harrisburg.
The six-acre Grass Campus, which includes six buildings, will provide ample space for a multitude of educational, cultural, philanthropic, and wellness programs for the community from 6 months to 106 years old. The new campus will be vibrant hub serving the community-at-large, regardless of religious affiliation and will be a haven for all people from the area to learn, meet and enjoy.
It will be the future home of a newly-constructed state-of-the-art sports complex featuring a therapy pool, gymnasium, and flexible large venue spaces. In addition to various sports and recreation activities (including basketball and pickleball), the gym will be able to serve as a community town square for programs and events. A new, full kosher kitchen expands capabilities for hosting both private and public events and ensures accessibility across community denominations.
Murray Associates Architects is working with the Jewish Federation to define their Master Plan with a vision to better serve the entire Harrisburg community. The plan allows for flexibility to meet current needs while adapting to future, unseen developments. Once competed, Murrays will move into the architectural, and interior design, along with construction documentation and administration.
The majority of renovations are planned to be complete by Summer 2023. Construction plans include creation of the fitness center on the 2nd floor of the Grass Center, updates to education spaces for The Silver Academy and Brenner Family Early Learning Center in South and Duncan Halls, addition of an elevator to the McCormick House (the future home of Jewish Family Service), and a new structure to house the Sports Complex on the east façade of Duncan Hall, which will include a pool and a ‘gymnatorium’ for athletics and community events.
Fun Fact: Murrays designed the original Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg’s Jewish Community Center (JCC) on Front Street in 1956. In fact, their original building was Murrays 880th project and the new Alexander Grass Campus for Jewish Life will be our 3,699th project. We are always grateful to be selected for important community projects, but to also continue our history with past clients, such as the Jewish Federation, is a complete honor and gives us great pride!
