PHOENIX — Construction has officially begun on what will become Phoenix’s first permanent Holocaust education center, a $45 million facility designed to serve as a powerful educational resource for future generations.

The Hilton Family Holocaust Education Center, which broke ground last week, will be located at 122 E. Culver St., surrounding the historic Cutler-Plotkin Jewish Heritage Center, just steps from the Burton Barr Central Library in downtown Phoenix. The center is scheduled to open by April 2027.

Built by A.R. Mays Construction, the center will incorporate cutting-edge technologies including holographs and virtual reality to create a deeply immersive experience that brings Holocaust history to life.

“It’s extremely important now, … with the rise of hate here and around the world, to have a resource like this, especially in a city that has millions of people, especially students,” said Tony Fusco, Holocaust education director for the Arizona Jewish Historical Society, during an interview with KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Arizona’s Morning News.

The urgency of Holocaust education has intensified as antisemitic incidents surge nationwide. In 2024 alone, the Anti-Defamation League recorded more than 9,000 antisemitic incidents across the U.S.—the highest number in the organization's 46-year history.

While the center will provide global context on the atrocities of the Holocaust, it will also focus on stories and heritage specific to Arizona’s Jewish community.

“Not only will we talk about the Holocaust, but we’ll also talk about the rich heritage of the Jewish people here in Arizona,” Fusco said.

He added that approximately 70 Holocaust survivors still reside in the Valley. Their testimonies and firsthand experiences will be integral to the educational mission of the center.

“It’s the living memory that needs to be, of course, first and foremost, in front of (the) younger demographic to be able to educate them to resist hate and turn to, of course, (the) law of kindness and hope, which is hopefully what’s going to educate many of these college students who are showing antisemitic or hateful remarks,” Fusco said.

The project was first announced in November 2023 by the Arizona Jewish Historical Society and has received significant public and private support, including a $7 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education.

At the groundbreaking ceremony held Thursday, Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs, Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, and other local leaders joined community members to celebrate the launch of the transformative project.

Adam Mays, president of A.R. Mays Construction, emphasized the deeper meaning behind the center's mission in a press statement:

“The opportunity to participate in the development of a project that furthers the education of our community of young people on the atrocities of misguided human behavior and its devastating results to fellow human beings is one I am proud to be a part of. This facility is truly a contribution to our community that will elevate awareness of all future generations to come in Arizona.”

Upon completion, the center is expected to become a hub for Holocaust education not only in Phoenix but across the Southwest, offering permanent exhibits, interactive learning environments, survivor stories, and opportunities for critical dialogue on human rights and tolerance.

Originally reported by KTAR News.