Demolition at the Tree of Life synagogue campus in Squirrel Hill has entered a new phase, with crews clearing much of the former structure and shaping the footprint for a rebuilt complex. The site at Shady and Wilkins avenues is where 11 worshippers were killed on Oct. 27, 2018, in what is recognized as the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history. This week, project leaders invited reporters inside for a close look as the effort prepares to shift from tearing down to building back up.
Demolition and fundraising
Tree of Life CEO Carole Zawatsky and project manager Craig Dunham guided reporters through the stripped-down interior and laid out where things stand. The rebuild has raised just over $50 million from more than 2,000 donors, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has committed roughly $10.6 million to the project, according to CBS Pittsburgh. Zawatsky framed the work as both practical and deeply symbolic, telling reporters, “The narrative that we're building here is about bringing Jewish life back to this corner,” and stressing that the campus is meant to unite worship, education, and memorialization in a single place.
Design, preserved elements and schedule
The new campus design comes from architect Daniel Libeskind’s Studio Libeskind, working in partnership with Pittsburgh firm IKM Architecture. The updated plan scales the complex while preserving the sanctuary’s historic stained-glass windows and reshaping the site into a 300-seat sanctuary and theater, a museum, classrooms, and an outdoor memorial, according to Studio Libeskind. The design calls for the reuse of key sanctuary walls as part of the reimagined space. Axios Pittsburgh reports that above-ground construction is expected to start this fall, with a worship space projected to be ready for the High Holidays in 2027 and the full campus slated to open in 2028.
What remains and what neighbors can expect
Most of the original building came down during an earlier demolition phase that began in 2024, but portions of the sanctuary walls have been deliberately preserved to serve as anchors for the memorial and future worship areas. WTAE reported that about 80% of the structure was removed at that stage. Organizers say the rebuilt campus is intended to blend communal worship with education and remembrance. The congregation's site details the Remember. Rebuild. Renew. campaign and the features planned for the new campus, and leaders say fundraising will continue as the project moves from site work into active construction, according to Tree of Life Congregation.
