A protected Jerusalem landmark, the home of the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs is located in Beit Milken at the corner of Rachel Emeinu and Tel Hai Streets, directly across from the Greek Consulate in the Greek Colony. Built in 1932, the building served as the Embassy of Uruguay from 1957 to 1980. In 1989, the 1,200-ton building was moved 16 meters from the center of the lot on which it stood to the southern side of the lot. A special work crew with experience in moving buildings was brought in from Poland for this purpose. Belts of concrete and steel cable held the structure in place as it was raised by hydraulic jacks and pushed along rails to reach the location of its new foundations.
The exceptionally imposing, attractive, Jerusalem-stone building sits on a 900 square meter plot and contains 5,500 square feet of usable space. Entirely remodeled to meet the Center’s needs, the building itself is surrounded by a beautiful, well-kept garden.
Both floors of the building have spacious and airy rooms. The main floor houses the reception area, offices of the President, Director General, and Project Coordinators, as well as a large library which also serves as a lecture hall and conference room. The lower floor houses administrative and project offices, the Center’s extensive archives and data bank, and seminar rooms.
The Jerusalem Center building is wheelchair-accessible.