Transforming three floors of Kansas City’s only remaining Jewish synagogue required equal measures of technical skill, cultural sensitivity, and careful coordination to complete while the congregation continued to use the building.
Details
Kansas City, MO
Architect: DRAW Architecture + Urban Design LLC
5,852 sf
Transforming three floors of Kansas City’s only remaining Jewish synagogue required equal measures of technical skill, cultural sensitivity, and careful coordination to complete while the congregation continued to use the building.
The most significant interior change was the re-orientation of the worship room itself, a complex undertaking in an existing, occupied historic structure. A new bimah was constructed and fitted with a curved drywall ceiling system incorporating direct and indirect LED lighting. Custom millwork was fabricated for the Torah, and new windows and wall finishes were installed throughout the worship room and lobby spaces. A new operable partition now separates the worship room from the lobby, providing flexibility for varying programming needs.
The lower level was renovated to accommodate multi-purpose gathering functions, with updated restrooms and kitchen facilities. New education spaces were added, and a custom millwork display for the donor wall was installed.
On the exterior, a new covered canopy protects members during entry and drop-off. New wood entry doors with integrated security systems complete the project.
“Pearce Construction went above and beyond our expectations in several areas. One notable instance was their proactive approach to problem-solving, where they identified and resolved potential challenges before they could impact the project timeline or budget. Their dedication to sustainability and their efforts to incorporate eco-friendly practices into the construction process was also highly impressive and allowed us to achieve Energy Star rebates for the client.”