Hillel Makes New Headquarters at 800 8th St.

WASHINGTON, DC-Calling it an $18-million project, Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life has acquired the building at 800 8th Street to serve as the organization’s new headquarters. Hillel purchased the three-year-old building from District developer Yeni Wong for $12.5 million and proceeded with a multi-million-dollar renovation and upgrade. With interior construction currently under way on the Chinatown-area structure, Hillel is planning for a June move from its current location in the B’Nai B’rith building at 1640 Rhode Island Ave.

Hillel will occupy most of the nine-story, 45,000-sf structure, which will be named the Charles and Lynn Schusterman International Center in honor of the donors who contributed $4 million to the project. Two floors will be reserved for leasing to non-profit groups. In addition to an art pavilion and a library and resource center, the headquarters will also offer a state-of-the-art conference facility on the top floor to be available for use to other Jewish organizations. “Our new building will not only be the flagship of Jewish renaissance,” says Hillel president and international director Richard M. Joel, “it will be an inviting Jewish home in the heart of Washington, DC for the community, students, professionals, lay leaders and other visitors to the capital.” The building has the added value of being in the revitalized area that is home to the MCI Center.