The Jewish Leadership Academy in Miami set out to create a Modern Orthodox learning environment for middle and upper school students, they focused on weaving together faith, scholarship, and a tangible sense of connection to Israel. Materiality proved central to that vision. The architects selected Jerusalem Gold Limestone, a stone quarried in the South of Israel in the Negev Desert. Rugo Stone was brought on board early in the design phase by Gensler the project architect to consult and assist with the stone specifications and anchorage design.
The architect incorporated this stone throughout the campus, but most prominent were the installations on two monumental radial feature walls: one at the school’s central study hall, or beit midrash, and the other anchoring the main entrance façade. Each wall measures approximately 41 feet wide by 18 feet tall and one foot thick. The exterior wall was clad in 2″ thick Jerusalem Gold limestone panels, while the interior wall used 1-1/4″ thick panels. Both walls were finished with a striking mix of honed and splitface textures, creating a tactile and visual richness. In addition to the two feature walls, Jerusalem Gold Limestone with honed finishes was used extensively on secondary interior and exterior wall surfaces, reinforcing the material theme.
Rugo team performed this project with inhouse workforce, the field crews traveled to Miami, stayed there for the entire duration and completed the project. Installing the stone panels and maintaining the alignments was a great challenge but the team executed the job perfectly.
The project was completed on time and the client expressed great satisfaction with the final result—an elegant and meaningful environment that reflects both tradition and modernity.
Location: Miami, FL
Completion Date: 2024
Owner: ADES Family Foundation
Architect: Gensler
General Contractor: Pirtle Construction Company
Size: 7,666 sqft
Services Performed: Design, Fabricate, supply and Install splitface limestone
