Innovative Construction Meets Historic Preservation

In the Etz Chayim complex, adjacent to Mahane Yehuda Market, two 29-story residential towers are under construction, reaching approximately 120 meters in height and comprising 308 units. Beneath them, a seven-level underground car park with 265 spaces is being excavated.

A significant challenge in the project has been the preservation of two nearby historic buildings—the Etz Chayim Yeshiva and an old kindergarten. The kindergarten, positioned 60 cm lower than the Yeshiva, required a complex lift to excavate the parking foundations beneath it. Weighing around 3,000 tonnes, the kindergarten was supported solely by weight-bearing walls and arches.

The lifting was achieved using hydraulic pistons and secured with steel supports. The process was closely monitored with a real-time alert system for any deviations, marking the first structure-raising of this kind in Israel.

Steel reinforcement bonds were pre-cast beneath existing walls and anchored to the foundations. After successfully raising the kindergarten, excavation reached level -3, connecting to the building's basement. At this point, upward construction of the towers began in tandem with further excavation of parking levels.