The Joseph Slifka Center for Jewish Life at Yale is a hub for students, faculty, and community members at Yale University. Located at 80 Wall Street in New Haven, Connecticut, the center provides a space for Jewish learning, cultural programs, religious services, and social events. Affiliated with Hillel International, the Joseph Slifka Center for Jewish Life cultivates a vibrant and inclusive Jewish community on campus. It welcomes students of all backgrounds and levels of observance, providing a pluralistic environment where they can engage with Jewish traditions, values, and leadership opportunities.
Constructed in 1995, the building was designed to accommodate the growing needs of Yale’s Jewish community. The 19,000-square-foot structure recently underwent renovations to enhance its facilities, including expanded gathering spaces, dining areas, and study lounges. The lower-level dining hall, in particular, required major upgrades. Originally, it was positioned alongside a recessed courtyard, designed to allow natural light into the space. However, over time, the courtyard saw less use, with minimal features beyond a single tree. To better serve students, reimagining this area became a priority. The challenge was finding a way to expand the dining hall’s seating capacity while preserving most of the building’s original footprint.
The solution was to incorporate a walkable skylight over the courtyard, seamlessly blending functionality with design. Once enclosed by aging masonry walls, the terrace underwent a complete transformation. Landow and Landow Architects LLP replaced the deteriorating walls with new Porcelanosa-clad CMU with Kalwall inserts, allowing more natural light to filter into the space while enhancing privacy and security. The porcelain panels of the updated terrace walls were arranged in a randomized two-tone gray pattern, creating a contemporary and inviting atmosphere. The new skylight sits just 18 inches above the rest of the terrace level, making it fully walkable, offering a versatile surface where people can sit, stand, or even dance as part of the terrace experience. This approach not only expanded the dining hall’s seating capacity but also preserved the natural light that enhances the space.
For the roofing, the solution was three-fold: addressing waterproofing, maintaining structural integrity, and creating a seamless transition between the new assemblies.
To address waterproofing challenges, the design incorporated matching porcelain pavers on pedestals over insulation and Siplast materials to ensure long-term durability and functionality. A modest 300-square-foot expansion was also added, maximizing the allowable area according to zoning restrictions and further optimizing the usable space.
As part of the restoration, issues from the original build involving poor flashings that resulted in water damage, leading to corrosion of conduits within the exterior walls, were also addressed. Siplast assisted New York City-based CANY Architecture & Engineering DPC, the project’s building envelope consultant, to effectively seal these areas, preventing further deterioration and ensuring long-term structural integrity. CANY’s specification of Siplast products allowed for the technical detailing of the existing flashing conditions and new complex transitions of the new assemblies.
As a result, these renovations have revitalized the building’s exterior, enhanced its functionality, and transformed the space into a versatile hub for student programs — all while prioritizing sustainability and design innovation.
Project Team
- Architecture and Interior Design: Landow and Landow Architects LLP
- Building Envelope Consultants: CANY Architecture & Engineering DPC
- Contractor: Babbidge Construction Company
- Installer: Barrett Roofing
- Roofing: Siplast (products used: Parapro® Roof Membrane System, Pro Base TS, Torch Applied)
- Ownership: Joseph Slifka Center for Jewish Life at Yale
Courtesy of Siplast, an innovator in the development and manufacture of advanced, high-performance roofing, waterproofing, and other built environment solutions.
