PROJECT Congregation Beth Ahabah

ARCHITECT Shinberg.Levinas Architects

LOCATION  Richmond, Virginia US

PROJECT COMPLETION DATE  3/1/2019

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN TEAM  Salo Levinas, Maria Gorodetskaya, Marco Vazquez
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
ELECTRICAL ENGINEER Baskervill
CONSULTANT Colonial Webb Comfort Systems
CONSULTANT One Lux Studio
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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 (including ADA-compliancy) 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 9th 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)

[KY=Kim Yao (Chair)  KD=Kimberly Dowdell  TY=Takashi Yanai]

KY: The submission included very nice drawings. The exterior of the building is very distinguished, with a great façade composition.

KD: This project is equally courageous and creative, thoughtfully stitching together its context and responding to cultural cues to draw attention to the exterior.

TY: The architect resolved this very difficult cluster of issues in between other buildings. The resulting project offers a nice face to the whole compound. There are stories and cultural nods within the design—it's nicely composed with a good use of materials.

MEDIA FOR DOWNLOAD
Project/Jury PDF

IMAGES (Captions and Photographer Credit)

1. Congregation Beth Ahabah | Alan Karchmer
2. Congregation Beth Ahabah | Alan Karchmer
3. Congregation Beth Ahabah - interior lobby | Alan Karchmer

4. Congregation Beth Ahabah in historic neighborhood | Alan Karchmer
5. Congregation Beth Ahabah - entry way | Alan Karchmer
6. Congregation Beth Ahabah | Alan Karchmer
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