The main entrance resembles an unrolled Torah. The color scheme
throughout the building is inspired by vegetation mentioned in the
Bible.
Every detail within the new
Fuchs Mizrachi School
in Beachwood has significance, whether it's about Jewish faith and
culture or the latest in high-tech design. More than 400 preschool
through high school students walked through the doors of the school on
August 30, marveling at the architecture, the amenities and the
space--something that had been dearly lacking for years.
In fact, Fuchs Mizrachi occupied two separate buildings in order to
accommodate its students. Now, they all gather under one roof in a
state-of-the-art setting.
Fuch Mizrachi is an Orthodox Jewish, Religious Zionist college prep
school that seeks to grow students into young men and women who are
capable of "swimming in all waters." The school was founded in 1983 as
Bet Sefer Mizrachi of Cleveland and later renamed for major donors
Leonard and Susan Fuchs.
Shaker Square's
Bialosky + Partners
designed the 100,000-square-foot school to consolidate the two existing
campuses. In addition to respect for Jewish heritage, the campus design
incorporates eco-friendly details: an advanced lighting control system,
high insulation values, a geothermal HVAC system and energy recovery
ventilators to improve fresh-air transfer from the outside. The project
earned LEED Gold Certification.
Students may not immediately recognize the sustainability features in
and around their new school. But they will drink in the beautiful
beit midrash,
or "hall of study," with its three-tiered ceiling and dramatic use of
beams and pendant lighting. The new school also boasts two gymnasiums, a
large music room and a theater.
On the day the school building was dedicated, Leonard Fuchs said that
Fuchs Mizrahi "has become part of my body and soul." With a new location
and a fresh look, the school will no doubt become an important part of
its students' formative years.
SOURCES: Fuchs Mizrachi, Bialosky + Partners
WRITER: Diane DiPiero