Expansion & Renovation

This project renovates and expands an early 20th-century mansion for Temple Shearith Israel, a growing congregation in Fairfield County, Connecticut.

The renovated mansion now houses offices, meeting rooms, and classrooms. An addition houses the Temple's sanctuary, multi-use spaces, reception lobby, and kitchen.

Client

Temple Shearith Israel

Location Ridgefield, CT
Size 9,300 Sq. Ft.
Features addition, renovation
Program sanctuary, pavilion, lobby, pergola, meeting rooms, classrooms, offices, kitchen
Year Completed 2006
Photo Credit Robert Benson Photography

The 200-seat sanctuary is a terminus, allowing ready access to adjacent spaces without disrupting religious services. The Ark cabinet and Bimah furniture are mahogany, as are the pews, which are arranged in a broad arc to encourage congregational interaction.

Weekly services are typically attended by medium-sized groups so the sanctuary is designed for intimacy. To accommodate larger groups during the High Holy Days, operable partitions open to a pavilion and lobby. An adjacent terrace with shaded pergola creates an "outdoor room" for special events.

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