The Museum of Jewish Heritage: Past, Present, and Future

In conjunction with Archtober, New York City’s architecture and design month, we are joined by Jerry Boryca, Eamon Roche, and Garry Leonard of Roche Modern, the design firm behind the Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust’s iconic six-sided building in Battery Park City. Jerry and Eamon will discuss the history of the project, the decisions the firm made throughout the building process, the current challenges the structure faces as Battery Park City undergoes a resiliency project starting this fall, and the future of the Museum, which includes the expansion of programming and exhibition spaces within the original building plan.

Jerry Boryca, Director of Roche Modern, has more than 35 years of development and design experience in a variety of cultural and corporate projects, with participation in the initial concept through design development, interior design, construction, and fit-out. Jerry has a Master of Architecture from University of Illinois.
Eamon Roche joined Roche Dinkeloo in 2018 initially as an advisor to his father, Kevin Roche, the firm’s founder. Eamon soon assumed the role of Managing Director taking over all business aspects of the firm’s existing contracts as well as developing new projects to take the firm into the future. Following the death of Kevin Roche, Eamon oversaw the firm’s relocation to New Haven where the firm is once agin expanding and has engaged with new projects in New York City, Washington DC, Ontario, and New Haven.

‍
Garry Leonard spent a 45-year career working with Kevin Roche John Dinkeloo and Associates and was engaged in the master planning and design of numerous major museums and cultural institutions, including the Museum of Jewish Heritage. Most notably, his experience includes 25 years working with curators, conservators, and administrators on projects from inception through completing for the Metropolitan Museum of Art, including the Roman Court and surrounding galleries, the American Wing Courtyard and galleries, the Galleries for the Art of Arab Lands, Anna Wintour Costume Institute, Uris Center for Education, as well as many other behind the scenes projects for conservation labs, offices, and art storage facilities.

‍