The Mandel Foundation in Cleveland has awarded $25 million to the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design in support of the school's new downtown Jerusalem campus, the Cleveland Jewish News reports.

The lead gift to the school's $100 million capital campaign will be used to construct a 400,000-square-foot building in the Russian Compound, between Holy Trinity Cathedral and the Museum of Underground Prisoners. The site was chosen by government leaders and the academy because of its status as a multicultural meeting place, according to the Jewish News. When completed, the buidling will offer classrooms, studios, office space, and two auditoriums that will encourage collaboration among the school's eight departments while allowing for more active social and cultural involvement between the academy and the city.

Scheduled to be completed in 2017, the building also will help the school meet the needs of its growing student body. "The new campus represents a breakthrough for the academy," said the school's director, Dor Lin, "with a building that will respond to developing needs in light of the steady and significant increase in the number of our students."

"As part of our long-term relationship with Bezalel Academy, the Mandel Foundation welcomes the opportunity to assist Bezalel in building their new campus in downtown Jerusalem," said Mandel Foundation chair and CEO Morton L. Mandel. "The gift represents our desire to support Bezalel, the city of Jerusalem, and the advancement of art in Israel."