Buildings of Yeshivah College Will Be Ready for Occupancy in October

“Group A” of the Yeshiva College Buildings, erected at a cost of nearly $2,500,000 to house the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary and its Yeshiva College, will be ready for dedication and occupancy in October 1928, Harry Fischel, chairman of the Yeshiva College Building Committee, announced yesterday.

Building operations were started in July 1926. During the campaign, many contributions were made by New York Jews including one of $100,000 by the Chairman of the Building Committee.

Charles B. Meyers and Henry B. Herts were the architects. The buildings were designed with a view of incorporating into the plan the features and style of the ancient Hebrew architecture. The romanesque style which includes many architectural features peculiar to ancient Semitic constructions was followed. Of particular beauty are the masonry work and the decorative stone designs. The masonry work cost about $250,000 while the front wall stones cost about $200,000, the chairman of the Building Committee declared. The furnishing and the equipment of the first group of three buildings which will temporarily house the Yeshiva, High School and College, including a dormitory for 250 out-of-town students and an auditorium with a seating capacity of 1200, as well as the various laboratories, will involve an additional expense of $250,000.

The construction of seven more buildings is included in the plans. The Building Committee has limited its work so far to the construction of the first group of buildings for which the amount of over $2,500,000 was already raised or subscribed. The committee plans the undertaking of further construction work as soon as additional subscriptions towards the Building Fund will be available.

“In announcing the completion of the construction work of the Yeshiva College buildings,” Mr. Fischel declared. “I wish to express my sincere appreciation of the work of the other members of the Building Committee, the architects and the generosity of the contributors who have made possible the laying of a foundation for a great Jewish institution for higher Jewish learning. When the Jewish community in New York City and the metropolitan public will have the opportunity of viewing the new buildings, we will be proud in the knowledge that we have not only created a great institution for Jewish and general learning, but that we have also added in Washington Heights an impressive and beautiful public building to the many that adorn the city.”