Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation Synagogue in Evanston, Illinois, United States

April 18, 2011 Category: Housing, Residential

Designed by Ross Barney Architects, Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation Synagogue is located in Evanston, Illinois, United States. The new building housing the JRC is a 31,600 sq ft facility replacing an existing 21,400 sq ft synagogue in a residential area of Evanston, an established Chicago suburb. Ross Barney Architects, with strong experience in community structures, created a design that balances the limitations of a small site with the congregations’ ambitious program promoting worship, educational, and community goals.

Following the clear mandate by the Board of the synagogue to be as “green” as possible, several ideas were formulated to make a sustainable transition from old to new: the new building is built on the foundations of the old; local demolition rubble is placed in wire cages to create “gabion” walls to retain the edges of gardens and children’s playgrounds and the memorial trees that shade the existing building were cut down and reconstituted as paneling on the Ceremonial door.

Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation Synagogue design by Ross Barney Architects