The Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies has broken ground for its new facility just north of their current digs on South Michigan Avenue, the first new building on the drag overlooking Grant Park in almost 40 years. The new building's distinctive folded glass facade, designed by local architecture firm Krueck + Sexton, will bring a much needed breath of elegant and contemporary design to that stretch of the rapidly growing South Loop. Be sure to check out more of the renderings of the provocative design, learn more about the plans for the new building, and read what architectural critic Blair Kamin had to say about the building and its role in the revival of this architecturally high profile stretch of Chicago. [via Archidose]