Temple Beth El, in upstate New York, is one of a handful of architecturally significant synagogues in the United States. We were commissioned to renovate and design a new educational addition in a manner that respected and preserved the original design by renowned 20th century architect, Louis Kahn.
A spacious, light-filled lobby connects the synagogue with a newly added structure that houses six classrooms, a large library, a social hall, a pre-function room, and a kitchen. The project also included the addition of a nursery school and the accommodation of the synagogue’s administrative offices all while remaining sensitive to the scale and character of the existing structure. The religious school is housed in the renovated classrooms of the original building.