A new addition to the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance, the Arts Center, designed by HQ Architects and HWKN Architecture, is a 2,500 m² building that expands this famed institution’s footprint to allow a larger program in performance arts. The design celebrates the interactive philosophy of an institution dedicated to bringing artists together across disciplines.

HWKN designed the new building’s intricate façade to both deliver a strong aesthetic statement and offer an innovative design for cooling a building in the Middle East. The curtain wall over the building’s glass façade is comprised of an arrangement of Jerusalem stone blocks, which is contextual and makes the facade harmonious with the adjacent landscape. It is also sustainable, forming a barrier to the sun’s heat. Lastly, it is inviting to the public through the unconventional placement of the stone blocks. Turned 45 degrees on their side, the stone blocks vary in dimension and are positioned to create the appearance of a solid unit dissolving in parts to allow for the interior to peek through. The materials' dramatic effect leaves a classic, timeless finish while celebrating a traditional material commonly local in an unexpected way.

HQ Architects’ building design and spatial arrangement resulted in a set of interior spaces that respond to the diverse uses and requirements of the Academy. Entering the building, there is a unique communal area—the main entrance and atrium space, which becomes a meeting place and community hub for students and faculty from all disciplines. The building is arranged around a central double space connecting the different rooms and spaces, providing the infrastructure and conditions for the interchange between different fields of dance and music, which is vital to the academy.

The atrium space continues the materiality of the facade by using the same stone, but in different sizes and placed on the floor instead of the wall. The space becomes a continuation of the exterior, creating a smooth visual and textural journey from the outside towards the inside. A central, almost sculptural staircase in exposed concrete dominates the space, bringing together people from the music and dance departments. Hanging fabric strips separate the atrium and the classroom corridor visually while providing acoustic insulation between the communal areas and the classrooms.
The facilities include a music recital hall of 115 seats, a dance studio, jazz and improvised music studio of 90 seats, a vocal and opera studio of 60 places, and 14 practice and teaching chambers. The building’s high-end facilities together with the dynamic shared spaces, enhance and promote the interaction and cross-fertilization between different disciplines.

The new building can now fulfill its mission and become a beacon of culture and arts to serve both the students and the local community.