This congregation occupies a sprawling facility that began with the purchase of a mansion in 1948 and has since grown into an approximately 80,000 sf facility over the years. Additions include a large social multipurpose hall in the early 1950’s, a partial educational wing in the mid-1950’s, a large sanctuary, lounge and access corridor in 1961, and an extension of the education wing and an administration infill in the 1980’s. These varied additions have done little to work cohesively as a whole, and the aesthetic expression is incongruous. A master-plan study done almost five years prior, which included a detailed report outlining group interviews, adjacencies, code reviews, and services analysis, led to the creation of a technical and aesthetic document outlining the priorities and hierarchies of intervention.

The current scope of work being designed includes comprehensive improvements to the social hall, the lounge adjacent to the main sanctuary, the vistas of the lakefront, and parts of the annexe wing. The essential approach at this stage of design is to unite the disparate elements into one cohesive whole, keeping in mind that each aesthetic decision addresses the larger needs of the master plan.

Cyrus Subawalla – Principal Designer
Sangwan Seo – Associate Principal
Mary O’Toole – Contract Documents

Building type: Cultural-Social Hall

Sustainability/LEED: Entirely new high performance facade and roof

Location: Highland Park, IL Site Area: 6.5 Acres

Project Area: Approx. 10,000 sf

Client: North Suburban Synagogue Beth El

Completion Year: Blumberg Hall 2013

Construction Cost: $1.135 Million in 2013

Recognition: Published in Chicago Tribune

Download PDF