Mikvah design built to the highest halachic and architectural standard

About HH Designers and our history with Mikvah design built to the highest halachic and architectural standard

Building a mikvah is unlike any other project a community undertakes. The halacha is exacting, the responsibility is sacred, and the design has to carry both. HH Designers builds mikvaos that are flawlessly kosher and genuinely beautiful, spaces that honor the mitzvah and welcome the women and men who use them.

Our grandfather, Rabbi Sidney Sholom Hecht of blessed memory, was deeply connected to the Rebbe and to the Chabad community. That legacy shapes how we approach every ritual project: with reverence for halacha, attention to every detail, and a conviction that the holiest spaces deserve the finest design.

We have completed mikvaos and ritual environments across multiple communities, always under the supervision of a qualified rav, always built to accommodate even the most stringent halachic opinions. From the bor to the preparation rooms, we design the entire experience.

Why mikvah design demands a specialist

A mikvah is, at once, a structure governed by some of the most exacting laws in halacha and a space women visit monthly that should feel serene, private, and dignified. Most architects have never built one. We have, and we build them so that the halacha is unimpeachable and the experience is beautiful.

The Chafetz Chaim wrote that building a mikvah takes precedence over building a shul or buying a sefer Torah. We design with that weight in mind. Nothing about a mikvah is ordinary construction.

Halacha first, always

Every mikvah we build is designed and constructed under the supervision of a qualified rav, and detailed to satisfy even stringent opinions. The bor, the connection between the waters, the materials, and the water volume are all engineered to the strictest standard, because with a mikvah there is no room for compromise.

Beauty that honors the mitzvah

The Gemara teaches that a beautiful structure draws more people to the mitzvah. We design mikvaos with spa-quality preparation rooms, warm materials, and a sense of calm and dignity, so that taharas hamishpacha is observed in a setting worthy of it.

The bor: getting the halacha exactly right

The heart of every mikvah is the bor, the reservoir of natural rainwater that makes the immersion pool kosher. A mikvah requires a minimum of forty se'ah of valid water, and how the immersion pool connects to the rainwater determines the entire validity of the mikvah. We engineer this connection with a rav from the first drawing.

There are three classical methods of construction, and we design to whichever the supervising rav and community prefer, executed to the highest standard.

Hashaka, the kissing method

Two boros are built side by side, connected by an opening at least the width of a shfoferes hanod. When the tap water in the immersion pool touches the rainwater through the opening, it becomes valid. We detail the opening height and size precisely to halachic requirement.

Zeriah, the sowing method

Rainwater is collected in a reservoir, and incoming water passes over or through it so that it is considered sown into the ground and made valid. We engineer the flow and levels so the method works reliably every time the mikvah is refilled.

Bor al gabai bor, the Chabad method

Favored in Chabad communities following the approach of the Rashab, the immersion pool sits directly above the rainwater bor, connected by openings in the floor. One who immerses is, in effect, immersing in the rainwater itself. It is considered the most foolproof method, and we build it with exacting detail.

Materials and construction details that matter halachically

In mikvah construction, ordinary building decisions carry halachic weight. We coordinate every material and method with the supervising rav so there are no questions later.

Construction considerations we engineer

• Cast-in-place construction detailed to avoid the issues of pre-made slabs.
• Rebar and reinforcement handled in consultation with the rav's preferred opinion.
• Waterproofing and finishes that protect validity and last for decades.
• Filtration and heating designed so the mikvah stays clean without halachic complication.
• The connection openings sized and positioned to exact halachic measurement.

Designing the whole experience, not just the pool

A woman's experience of the mikvah is shaped by every room she passes through. We design the entire journey, from the street entrance to the immersion itself, for privacy, calm, and dignity.

Spaces we design around the mikvah

• Private, discreet entrances that protect anonymity.
• Spa-quality preparation rooms with premium fixtures and finishes.
• Warm, calming lighting and materials throughout.
• Beautiful waiting and reception areas for a welcoming first impression.
• Attendant and operational spaces planned for smooth, private service.
• Separate facilities where the community requires them, designed cohesively.

Serving Chabad and the broader Jewish community

Our roots in the Chabad community run deep, and mikvah is central to that work. We understand the halachic preferences, the communal sensitivities, and the standard of beauty these projects call for, and we bring the same care to every community we serve.

Whether you are a Chabad house building your first mikvah, an established community renovating an aging facility, or a developer creating a new community resource, we design and document the project end to end, in partnership with your rav.

Our proven design process

Initial Consultation and Proposal

We begin with a complimentary consultation to understand your community, your rav's halachic approach, and your vision for the space. A mikvah is a generational investment, and we treat the first conversation accordingly.

• A consultation covering your community's needs, halachic preferences, and site.
• A proposal with inspiration imagery, preliminary scope, and budget guidance.
• A clear, respectful path to begin, with no pressure and no hassle.

Discovery and Onboarding

We bring your rav into the process from the start, because the halachic decisions shape the design. During onboarding we align on method, standard, and vision.

• A working session with your rav or mikvah expert to set the halachic standard.
• Agreement on the bor method: hashaka, zeriah, or bor al gabai bor.
• A design brief that captures the experience, materials, and budget.

Research and Schematic Design

We design the mikvah and every supporting space, coordinating the halachic engineering of the bor with the architecture of a serene, beautiful facility.

• Bor and immersion pool engineered to exact halachic measurement with your rav.
• Preparation rooms, entrances, and reception planned for privacy and calm.
• Material palettes that are warm, durable, and worthy of the mitzvah.
• Floor plans coordinated with your architect, engineer, and contractor.

Renderings and FF&E

You see the mikvah before it is built, and we specify every fixture and finish for beauty, longevity, and easy maintenance.

• Photorealistic renderings of the pool, preparation rooms, and public spaces.
• Premium, moisture-appropriate fixtures and finishes specified in full.
• Material samples so the community can see and feel the quality.
• Every product pre-specified to prevent delays and substitutions.

The Spec Book

Your Spec Book documents the entire build, with the halachic details recorded so the construction is executed exactly as designed and approved.

• A complete printed Spec Book plus digital CAD files and PDFs.
• Bor connection details, finish schedules, and product specifications.
• Coordination notes for the rav, architect, and contractor.
• Our team available through construction to protect the design and the halacha.

Wherever your community is, we build mikvaos to the highest standard.

From the bor to the preparation rooms, we design mikvaos that are flawlessly kosher and genuinely beautiful. The halacha is never compromised, and neither is the experience.

We have built ritual spaces for communities across the country, always under rabbinic supervision, always to a standard that accommodates even the most stringent opinions.

A mikvah is the foundation of Jewish family life. We build it to last for generations, and to be worthy of the mitzvah it serves.