Skokie Valley Synagogue by Esther Sperber 

The Skokie Valley Synagogue renovation will revitalize the 1960 synagogue to better serve the local orthodox community and reflect the congregation’s mission. The updated sanctuary merges the synagogue’s values of accessibility and inclusivity with aesthetics to create a light, ethereal atmosphere. Seating in the sanctuary is reoriented to face east in accordance with the traditional Jewish direction of prayer towards Jerusalem. Relocating the ark and Bemah to the center of the space creates a focal point from which the voice of the Chazan reverberates. Ramps extending from separate entrances to this central platform encourage community participation in the space. New windows on the east and west connect prayers to time of day. A triangular skylight above the Bemah brightens the central point, functions as an acoustic deflector, and enhances the complex geometric ceiling beams of the original structure to create a structural rhythm unique to the space.

Software used: V-Ray, SketchUp, Rhino, Photoshop