Contemporary Jewish Museum, San Francisco

The Contemporary Jewish Museum (The CJM) makes the diversity of the Jewish experience relevant for twenty-first century audiences. A non-collecting organization, The CJM sparks dialogue and unites people from all walks of life through lectures, classes, films, and constantly rotating exhibitions commonly centered around contemporary art and popular culture.

Designed by architect Daniel Libeskind, the 63,000-square-foot CJM combines the legacy of the historic Jessie Street Power Substation with the dynamic angles and arresting shapes of contemporary architecture. Accompanying its overall shape is a blue metallic exterior and symbolic references to Jewish concepts, such as the Hebrew phrase "L'Chaim," meaning "to life."