LEO BAECK COLLEGE LIBRARY & READING ROOM

NEW LIBRARY AND READING ROOM FOR institution of Jewish scholarship and learning

Historic Anglo-Jewish Collection Brought into the Light in Finchley Transformation

A new public reading room for Leo Baeck College has been completed at the Sternberg Centre for Judaism, transforming a former convent and heritage prayer spaces into a vibrant, accessible library environment. Designed by Square Feet Architects, the £500,000 project relocates one of Europe’s most significant Anglo-Jewish collections from basement storage into a purpose-designed, ground floor setting, opening it up to students, scholars and the wider public.

The project reimagines a series of historically layered spaces within the College’s Grade II* listed Manor House and its later additions. The former synagogue hall—previously redundant despite its scale and presence—has been converted into the primary reading room, with the adjacent 19th-century billiard room restored and integrated as a flexible extension for events and gatherings.

At the heart of the design is a strategy of minimal intervention and maximum clarity. The removal of a poorly scaled partition between the two principal spaces has created a strong visual and physical connection, replaced by a new opening with sliding pocket doors concealed within bespoke bookcases. This allows the reading room to expand seamlessly when required, supporting lectures, exhibitions and community use.

Internally, the architectural language is deliberately restrained. New library shelving, lighting and acoustic treatments have been introduced as carefully considered insertions, preserving the volume and character of the original hall. A reception and office enclosure is expressed as joinery—visually integrated with the bookcases—ensuring that functional requirements do not interrupt the spatial continuity.

Materially, the project balances restoration with contemporary intervention. Timber panelling in the billiard room has been repaired and extended, while original oak flooring has been refinished and reinstated where necessary. New elements are detailed to complement the historic fabric without imitation, reinforcing a clear distinction between old and new.

The library itself houses over 60,000 volumes spanning more than 500 years of Jewish life, thought and culture—from early Hebrew commentaries to contemporary scholarship. Previously constrained by limited access and environmental conditions, the relocation enables approximately 20,000 volumes to be brought into open access within the reading room, significantly enhancing usability and engagement.

Beyond its physical transformation, the project reflects a broader institutional shift. By moving the collection into a prominent, publicly accessible space, the College has repositioned the library as both an academic resource and a cultural platform—supporting research, dialogue and community interaction.

Quote from Square Feet Architects
“Our approach was to reveal what was already there—to strip away the clutter and allow the historic spaces to work together,” said Daniel Leon, Director at Square Feet Architects. “The new reading room is not about imposing a new identity, but about creating the right conditions for learning, exchange and discovery within a remarkable existing setting.”

Quote from Leo Baeck College
“This project marks a significant moment for the College,” said a representative of Leo Baeck College. “Our library is central to everything we do, and this new space allows us to share it more openly—supporting our students while inviting wider audiences to engage with these extraordinary collections.”

Additional improvements include upgraded building services, improved lighting and acoustics, and enhanced accessibility through new facilities and clearer circulation routes, including a dedicated entrance to the library from the front forecourt.

Project Details