This warm, joyous congregation of 700 families, located in a historic district of Evanston, Illinois, commissioned a Master Plan to identify space needs. The existing midcentury modern building included a sanctuary, school, and office building. The Master Plan identified modifications to improve community interaction, worship, education, and social action. A phased construction plan was developed, concentrating on key worship and social spaces, while also addressing education, accessibility, security, and administrative requirements.
The renovated Sanctuary reinforces the original design concept of a congregational “tent” while improving comfort, acoustics, and accessibility. The sloped floor is flattened, and flexible seating replaces the fixed pews. A new star-shaped cloud ceiling in the adjacent event space improves acoustics while emphasizing the iconic modernist design. A former gift shop, coat room, and library are combined into an expanded lobby, scaled to the size of the congregation.
Accessibility, security and administrative needs were addressed in renovations to the school wing.
42,500 gross square feet
