|
|
CONGREGATION BETH ISRAEL
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA
The Architect's challenge was to design a new home for the region's oldest and largest Jewish community, Congregation Beth Israel, that included modern facilities to serve their current and future needs, while providing the congregation a link to their past.
The new 61,000 square foot facility includes a pre-school, day school and religious school, administrative offices, activity center, chapel, social hall and a sanctuary that accommodates 500 worshippers. Exterior spaces include terraces, courtyards and play-fields. The new facility's sloping site with its multiple levels, courtyards and tall walls is reminiscent of the city of Jerusalem. Building forms that include domes, towers and terraces, as well as building materials that include pre-cast concrete, art-glass windows and specially colored concrete masonry, reinforce the feeling of permanence and community. The masonry walls move from the exterior to within the interior spaces of the Sanctuary.
The Architect worked closely with the block manufacturer and the masonry contractor in the development of the colors and textures, as well as the implementation of the intricate articulation of the masonry surfaces. A cream and soft-white color with pumice was specified in shotblast and split face textures for the concrete masonry block. A combination of vertical scored units and deeply tooled mortar joints with matching colors of specially blended mortar served to enhance the look of a large stone facade.
ARCHITECT:
Austin
Veum Robbins Parshalle
One America Plaza
600 West Broadway, Suite 200
San Diego, CA 92101
Randy Robbins, AIA
Douglas Austin, FAIA
Michael Engel, Associate AIA
Jim Darroch
John Vredeveld
