Berlin’s Jewish Museum expanding to add more research and education space

Berlin’s Jewish Museum expanding

BERLIN — Berlin’s Jewish Museum says it is expanding to meet increasing demand for research and education.

The museum said Tuesday it will group its archives, library and education center under one roof across the street from the zigzag-shaped main building designed by architect Daniel Libeskind.

The new building, built in the 19th century as a flower market, will undergo a euro10 million ($12.7 million) renovation under Libeskind’s guidance that is expected to be done by the fall of 2011.

The education center is currently in a separate building while the library and archives can only be accessed by registering in advance.

Some 100,000 are now using the research and education facilities — double the number than when it opened in 2001. The museum saw 755,000 visitors last year.