PROJECT Congregation Beth Ahabah

LOCATION  Richmond, Virginia US

PROJECT COMPLETION DATE  3/31/2019

ARCHITECT  Shinberg Levinas Architectural Design Inc

ASSOCIATED ARCHITECT/DESIGNER  No

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN TEAM  Salo Levinas (Design Principal), Maria Gorodetskaya (Project Architect), Marco Vazquez (Architect)

OWNER/CLIENT Congregation Beth Ahabah

CONTRACTOR/CONSTRUCTION MANAGER  Kjellstrom & Lee

PHOTOGRAPHER  Alan Karchmer

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT
CIVIL ENGINEER
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER Ehlert Bryan Consulting
MECHANICAL ENGINEER Baskervill (MEP Engineers)
ELECTRICAL ENGINEER
CONSULTANT Colonial Webb Comfort Systems (MEP) Contractor
CONSULTANT One LUx Studio (Lighting Design)
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SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT  

Beth Ahabah’s campus represents a congregation with more than a century of history and consisted of five separate buildings with distinct functions and minimal or non-existent links between components. The proposal recommended demolition of the existing school building, construction of a new addition in its place, relocation of museum and philanthropic offices, and a newly constructed link between the existing synagogue and a fifth building. A primary goal of the modernization was to create a central entrance to reinforce the concept of an integrated campus with improved circulation and increased accessibility for visitors and staff.
The new, modern structure successfully ties together three buildings with different floor elevations and complements the historic streetscape with its massing, scale and materials. While a cornice line and water table at the base visually connect to architectural elements of neighboring structures, the new building’s design is a bold, modern statement. It incorporates religious symbolism with an unusual two-sided arch at the entrance representing Hebrew letters that spell “Life,” two tall, thin windows split into 5 parts representing the Ten Commandments, and eight smaller windows near a ninth larger window representing a menorah.
The atrium beyond the entrance invites light into the core of the building; it creates an interior space from which various programs are visible; and it highlights the exterior wall of the original sanctuary building, linking the new to the old. In this way the historic sanctuary is always present to visitors as they move through the new building.
 

JURY COMMENTS (If Applicable)

MEDIA FOR DOWNLOAD
Project/Jury PDF

IMAGES (Captions and Photographer Credit)

1. FRONT ELEVATION - Alan Karchmer Photographer
2. MAIN ENTRANCE - Alan Karchmer
3. LOBBY - Alan Karchmer / Firm Image

4. GENERAL VIEW - Alan Karchmer
5. EXTERIOR VIEW - Alan Karchmer
6. LOBBY - Alan Karchmer / Firm Image
7. WINDOWS VIEW - Alan Karchmer
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