Welcome to the Renovation Blog!
Welcome to the Beth El Temple Center Sanctuary Renovation Blog!
The Renovation Oversight committee will be using this blog as a vehicle to inform the members of the Beth El Community about the design and progress of the renovation. As we begin construction we will post updates and post progress photos.
This blog will also be a place for you to post your questions or comments. We will try to update it regularly with images and answers to questions so please check back often.
Mike
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Mr WordPress
March 4, 2008 at 9:43 pm
What is the condition of the roof? It is going to need constant monitoring to avoid termites & red ants from appearing to eat the wooden ceiling.
Harold
March 22, 2008 at 3:41 am
The roof is in relatively good condition.
We don’t think that there will be a need for constant monitoring, but I will talk to the House Committee chair to make sure we are up to date with the Temple’s pest control. The issue of termites is real regardless of anything we do on the renovation and monitoring that is important for the general maintenance of the building.
mwolfson
March 22, 2008 at 3:59 pm
Dear Planning Committee,
This all looks very exciting. The wood looks great and I’m sorry I wasn’t able to attend recent meetings where you probably answered this question already:
What exactly is the trellis that appears in the design?
Thanks,
Rise
Rise Singer
April 6, 2008 at 6:23 pm
The lattice work serves several purposes – first, since we are adding 4 clear windows, they will filter the direct sunlight. Second, since there will be lots of solid wood, they are meant to add texture and layering to break up the solid wood feeling of the space. Also, they help to create a feeling of the “room within the room” that the architects are hoping to achieve in the area of flexible seating.
The design & materials of the lattice work is still being designed – what you see here is a picture of the model, but there’s still more work to be done!
Elyse
elyseshuster
April 8, 2008 at 1:25 am
Dear Renovation Committee,
We have a good-faith difference on the design for the sanctuary renovation. I am writing here because this plan demonstrates that our magnificent mosaic ark is not being preserved. We have an ark grounded in Jewish cultural, artistic, and religious legacy (see Globe, March 25th) and rather than preserving it, we are swapping it for the design presented in these pictures–a real travesty. Although we are “gunking up” one of the two architecturally and artistically significant aspects of our sanctuary (the windows), the fact that we are getting rid of the other (our mosaic ark), defies comprehension.
Sincerely,
Jocelyn Tager
Jocelyn Tager
April 11, 2008 at 2:52 am
hi
The design looks beautiful. And I really like the adaptability for different numbers of congregants.
A question about wood finish. Will the wood be very blond as in the model? Maple? I know the room is mahogany now which is quite dark. Was there consideration given to cherry like the foyer, or a fruitwood stain (in between maple and cherry).
On one hand I can imagine that maple would be very light and airy but I worry people (particularly older members) will feel that they have walked into a different Temple and will miss that sense of spiritual home. Perhaps a more middle tone wood or stain would have greater sense of continuity and a better transition from the foyer space, as well as providing a sense of being embraced by the sanctuary.
Lori Lander
April 11, 2008 at 8:58 pm
Lori,
Thanks for the comments. There are still MANY details, including wood finishes, that have yet to be decided. We will certainly consider some mid-range type of wood, or wood finish, and we have already discussed fruitwood stain.
THanks for your comments!
elyseshuster
April 14, 2008 at 1:19 am
The current photos do not include current plans for the mosaics around our ark, because the ark design is still a work in progress (thus our deiscliamer at the top of this blog). Rather than inciting negative feelings and inflaming people’s emotions by telling Temple members that the ark is being “destroyed” and “demolished”, it might be more productive to wait and see what the actual plans for the mosaics are.
THE MOSAICS ARE NOT GOING TO BE DESTROYED OR DEMOLISHED WITH A WRECKING BALL!!!!!!!!!!
They will be preserved and used in a new way. That’s not the same as destroying them.
The stained glass windows are not being “gunked up” either. The architects are working very hard to integrate them into the new space.
elyseshuster
April 14, 2008 at 1:30 am
I do agree with Jocelyn on that, mosaics are a major symbol to be incorporate in any sanctuary design! The pictures of the sanctuary, looks like it is going to be convert into an oversize chapel of a funeral home of any religion with the bimah etc. It will not make it any more welcoming & instead the reverse will happen driving members away for services! It is healthy to have a hung jury on this issue with Jocelyn’s “food for thought”! Too many important details on being done on the fly!
Harold
April 14, 2008 at 3:56 am
The mosaics are going to be INCORPORATED into the new sanctuary design!
elyseshuster
April 14, 2008 at 10:48 am
For the record, I have never been very impressed with the “mosaics,” but will refrain from describing what associations they conjure. I will not miss them, if demolished. However, what I wanted to share were comments from Peter, our very accomplished organist. He has experience in situations where new sound systems have been introduced and led to a deterioration of the sound qualify from the organ. He should be consulted on the selection of a keyboard (if we really have to abandon our existing console), the ampification system and the speakers. He also spoke of a case where new lighting produced an audible pitch. Just to be cranky, I’ll add that I am not a huge supporter of the organ, but if we’re wedded to it, let’s get it right.
Jonathan Jacoby
April 19, 2008 at 1:13 am
What is moderation? Do you want me to tone it down? And, again for the record, it is not 1:13AM.
Jonathan Jacoby
April 19, 2008 at 1:15 am
Hi Jonathan,
As a point of clarification, the mosaics are NOT going to be demolished – that is a rumour that is a complete misrepresentation of the intentions of our committee.
Your comments about the sound system is well taken, and you (and Peter) should rest assured that we have professional sound engineers working with us, that the Cantor & Rabbi are highly involved in this aspect, as is Jonathan Miller, whose theater experience is extremely valuable to the sound engineering of the project.
We can certainly bring Peter (the organist) in on these discussions.
Elyse
elyseshuster
April 19, 2008 at 12:16 pm