$20 million gift to university from Wallach family will preserve memory and inspire learning
Florida Atlantic University has broken ground on the Kurt and Marilyn Wallach Holocaust and Jewish Studies Building, made possible through the Wallachs’ transformational $20 million gift to the university.
The new landmark will anchor FAU’s commitment to Holocaust education, Jewish studies, and the broader pursuit of human rights.
The 22,000-square-foot, two-story facility will not only house FAU’s academic programs in these fields but will also serve as a cultural and educational destination for South Florida.
Visitors will find permanent exhibits, cultural performances, and public lectures designed to deepen understanding of history while fostering dialogue and respect.
Construction is expected to take about 14 months, with doors scheduled to open in the fall of 2026.
For Marilyn Wallach, the ceremony was deeply personal.
Standing before more than a hundred guests, she spoke of the meaning behind the moment.
“This is a monumental day, and I know Kurt would be so proud to see this building become a reality,” she said.
“Kurt always said, ‘We speak for those who cannot speak, and we remember all the victims, including our family members who perished needlessly.’ It is our hope that through education we can ensure that lives will be saved, and history will not be repeated.”
The Wallachs’ gift not only launched the building project but also established the Kurt and Marilyn Wallach Institute for Holocaust and Jewish Studies, setting a foundation for academic and community engagement that has already inspired additional benefactors to join in support.
University leaders echoed that sense of responsibility and urgency. FAU President Adam Hasner called the project a national model, emphasizing that the Wallach building reflects the university’s determination to provide a safe and welcoming home for Jewish life while also taking a leadership role in confronting antisemitism and advancing human rights.
When it opens, the Wallach building will bring together FAU’s Arthur and Emalie Gutterman Family Center for Holocaust and Human Rights Education, the Leon Charney Diplomacy Program, and the Center for Peace, Justice and Human Rights.
The Craig and Barbara Weiner Holocaust Museum of South Florida, in collaboration with the George and Irina Schaeffer Dimensions in Testimony exhibit, will provide visitors with immersive experiences. A memorial pavilion will also offer a space for reflection on the Armenian genocide.
Inside, the design will include a recital and lecture hall, a traveling exhibition gallery, and the prominent Marilyn and Jay Weinberg Grand Lobby, along with student study spaces and administrative offices.
Michael Horswell, Ph.D., dean of FAU’s Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, summed up the broader vision: “This wonderful building unleashes opportunities for both students and the community, who will learn from the past to create a better world for the future.
We are indebted to Kurt and Marilyn for their transformational gift and to all the generous benefactors who have linked arms with us to make Florida Atlantic an epicenter of Holocaust and human rights education.”
As the first shovels broke ground, the day carried with it a promise—that Marilyn Wallach’s determination to preserve memory and inspire learning will resonate through FAU’s campus, South Florida, and beyond for generations to come.