A groundbreaking ceremony for the Hilton Family Holocaust Education Center (HFHEC) was held June 5 and attended by distinguished guests including Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs, Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego and Holocaust survivor Oskar Knoblauch. Attendees received an exclusive preview of the center’s innovative gallery plans and celebrated the shared commitment to fostering empathy and confronting antisemitism and injustice.
A.R. Mays Construction is leading the development of a 31,944 SF, two-story education center with a basement, integrated around the historic Cutler Plotkin Jewish Heritage Center at 122 E. Culver St. in Downtown Phoenix.
The center is designed as an interactive and immersive space that will transform the way visitors engage with Holocaust history. Highlights include a permanent exhibit chronicling the progression of Nazism and the Holocaust, woven with personal accounts from Arizona-connected survivors; life-sized interactive testimonies and holographic storytelling, powered by next-generation technology; curriculum-aligned student programs and professional development opportunities for Arizona educators; and a digital learning platform, preserving survivor narratives and expanding Holocaust education.
The Hilton Family Holocaust Education Center is expected to open in spring 2027. Learn more at www.hfhecaz.org.
