Renovation Updates

The South Addition and South Entrance officially opened on August 26, 2024 and it has been so exciting to see members and families using the new spaces. From Nursery School parents hanging out in the Community Lounge to meetings and adult education classes in the Beit Midrash to B’nei Mitzvah celebrations in the upper lobby and on the terrace, there is so much joy in seeing this project come to fruition. As a reminder, only the South Entrance is open. The East (old main) Entrance is closed.

We also have installed the beautiful mezuzahs made specially for our South Addition. The mezuzah on the South Entrance was made and donated by Reuben Rosenthal of the Gary Rosenthal Collection in memory of his father, Gary Rosenthal. Outside the South Entrance the quotation “Open for Me Gates of Righteousness” is emblazoned on the wall. The mezuzah echoes these words and finishes the quotation: “that I may enter them and praise God” (Psalms 118: 19). Back in February, Rosenthal Studios joined our community to make mezuzahs together to hang on all the other doors of the South Addition. These too are now hung, representing the joining of our community together to build the space we now get to enjoy. Thank you so much to Gary Rosenthal Collections and the Rosenthal-Goldsmith Family for making this possible!

Additionally, the art work commissioned by the Temple Sinai Art Committee has arrived and has been hung in the main lobby. This piece, named Kehillah (Community) by Talia Levitt, is an ode to Jewish heritage and to Temple Sinai itself.  Levitt’s large quilt-like painting celebrates our diverse community while depicting important events in our congregation’s history,  from our first meeting place at the National Cathedral to our most recent addition, where it occupies a central, welcoming location. The piece invites the viewer to look closely and discover embedded objects identified with our congregation: Temple Sinai’s “big tent” roofline hovers atop the canvas while underneath lie bits of our ark, Torah covers, plantings, flooring, brick walls, Havdalah candles and other glimpses of our synagogue. To learn more about Talia Levitt’s work, visit her website.

Construction continues outside the South Addition as our team works to finish the last few Stormwater Bio-Retention Ponds and complete the walkway from Jocelyn St NW to our South Entrance. Once this work is completed, people who park in that part of the neighborhood will have a ramped way to get to the building. As you can see in the photos below, the walkway starts at the bottom of the driveway on Jocelyn St NW, winds through the plantings and beautiful natural elements, and ends at the sidewalk leading up the South Entrance. We expect this to be the final major piece of construction and for it to be completed in October 2024.

Kehillah (Community) by Talia Levitt

We are excited to announce that starting Monday, August 26, the South Addition and South Entrance will officially be open for use! Over the summer weeks, construction crews have been hard at work to finish the new space. The advanced security system has been installed, the new elevator is operational, and the community lounge has been stocked with reading materials by our Library Committee. Additionally, our Art Committee has added beautiful artwork throughout the space, and the landscaping around the Stormwater Retention Ponds is nearing completion this week.

Beginning Monday, August 26, the South Entrance directly accessible from the parking lot will serve as Temple Sinai’s new primary entrance, and the East (old main) Entrance will be closed. All who come to the temple will use the South Entrance to both enter and exit the building. When the building is open, security staff will be ready to buzz you in and assist you in navigating the new wing.

This marks the culmination of many years of dedication and support from the Temple Sinai community. We eagerly anticipate experiencing how the South Addition will enhance and build our Kehillah Kedoshah, our Holy Community.

While the exterior work on the Stormwater Retention Ponds and the walkway to Jocelyn Street is ongoing, it will not impact our use of the South Addition. We expect these final touches to be completed in early autumn.

Several exciting milestones have been reached since our last update in early May! First, Temple Sinai has passed all of the inspections to receive a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy for the interior of the South Addition.

What does this mean? This means Temple Sinai is permitted to use the interior of the South Addition once we have the physical certificate itself in hand (expected shortly). In the coming weeks, we will begin rolling out a plan for the usage of the space, including adding the spaces in the South Addition as reservable spaces for temple programs and events.

Why not start using the space right away? There are a few final touches that, while not affecting the safety of the space, do impact how we can use the space. We want to make sure members can use the South Addition to its fullest, so stay tuned for the announcement when we start formally using the South Addition.

Second, the Book Nook has been completed and is now in use! Our architects designed the Book Nook as a comfortable space for reading exploration and the doorway is meant to invoke a parent and child in embrace. Last week the Nursery School students started exploring their new space and the rave reviews are in. Some feedback from the children include:

“It’s super cozy!”

“It looks like a fairy door!”

“I love it!”

As we look forward to the next year of Temple Sinai Nursery School, the Book Nook will be filled with cushions, books, and decorations to make it a full reading wonderland.

Third, the “Outitorium”  was completed this week. This is an outdoor space for members of all ages to sit, play, and enjoy our grounds. While this space cannot be used until we extend our temporary certificate of occupancy to include the outdoors, we envision it both as an integrated part of the playground and as a space open to adult & family programming such as Shabbat Sing, Family Shabbat, and much more.

Lastly, while work continues on the southern stormwater retention ponds, work has begun on the boardwalk that leads from Jocelyn St. to the new main entrance. Concrete has been laid for the sidewalk at the top of the walkway, as well as at the bottom where it reaches Jocelyn St.

The finished Book Nook

A lot has happened over the past few weeks as our construction team has taken advantage of our schools’ Spring and Passover Breaks!

The exterior plating of the awning covering the new South Entrance has been installed, an important final step in weatherproofing the awning. Just south of the South Entrance, more concrete has been laid for the sidewalk abutting our stormwater bioretention ponds with drainage pipes layered underneath them. The drainage pipes lead straight into the first of our south-side stormwater bioretention ponds, whose concrete structure has been completed. As the summer continues, several more stormwater bioretention ponds will be built leading down the south hillside. These will then be filled with gravel, soil, and plantings, and finally, a boardwalk from Jocelyn St to the South Entrance will be built and integrated with the pond structures.

Inside the building, a few transformational pieces have been added. First, furniture has been delivered to all of our new spaces. The Book Nook is close to completion and now has been uncovered from behind its corrugated plastic protective covering. The Book Nook is a space designed for school use where students & families can sit and read together. Finally, the glass paneling and wooden railings have been installed along our new staircases, completing the finishing touches on these pieces. In the coming weeks our construction team will start going through “punch-list” items—identifying small fixes that need to be made before construction can be considered finished—and deep cleaning the space.

We expect to receive our Temporary Certificate of Occupancy this month with congregational usage to follow soon thereafter. We can’t wait for you to join us in the completed new South Addition soon!

South Entrance Awning

It’s springtime at Temple Sinai and the cherry trees planted in the fall are now blooming! For those who have driven to the temple this past week, you have probably noticed that the west end of the parking lot has been re-opened, now with the new sidewalk, safety bollards, and Temple Sinai monument sign.

On the other side of the construction fence, work on the stormwater retention ponds continues. The concrete foundation for the structural wall abutting the parking lot side has been poured and the full retention pond walls are in process.

Inside the building, the trim around doors that separate the South Addition from the existing building has been finished and some room signs have been added. Finally, the “Book Nook” area tucked into the school-wing stairwell has had all of the structural elements completed and now just needs some finishing details to complete this cozy nook for early childhood reading.

Next week the furniture will be delivered and the South Addition will really start to look finished. With Spring Break next week, we are taking advantage of the emptier building to do a few key pieces including finishing the South Entrance concrete, integrating the Sanctuary foyer doors with our new lockdown system, and preparing the Social Hall doors that connect to the South Addition for use.

The upper level of the South Addition is in great shape with only a few installation pieces remaining, including A/V and some glass railing. While the doors to the South Addition are not yet ready to be opened for general use, the upstairs is largely clean and clear of construction.

Over the past couple of weeks, work has continued preparing the exterior of the South Entrance for use. The South Entrance curb and gutters have been laid and preparations are being made for the sidewalk to be poured soon.

Last week we installed the new slides on the playground, meaning the Nursery and Religious School students now have a new fun way to get from the top level of the playground to the bottom!

While an official open date for the South Addition is still pending, we are expecting furniture delivery and removal of the temporary wall covering the doors between the social hall and the South Addition later in March.

Upper Lobby (doors to social hall on left)

Major work has started on the exterior of the South Addition over the past couple of weeks! Concrete has been poured for the new South Entrance stairs and covered entryway. The South Stormwater Retention Structures, expected to add over 3,000 gallons of stormwater retention capacity to our already-completed Sanctuary Stormwater Retention Pond, is now being prepared for concrete foundation pouring.

Internally, the big news is that the South Addition has passed several inspections needed to take occupancy of the space in the coming weeks. Additionally, the special tiles for the new terrace that allow for drainage have arrived and are being installed. These tiles, along with a new pergola, will make the terrace a beautiful and flexible outdoor space for everyone. Finally, the installation of internal finishing is being completed, including shelving, cabinetry, and special tile backsplashes.

Next, we expect the interior to be ready for furniture delivery and exterior work to continue for the Stormwater Retention Ponds and their accompanying boardwalk walkway to Jocelyn Street.

The South Entrance

Over the past couple of weeks, significant work has been done to install the new doors in the South Addition—in particular the new secure school wing doors. Additional layers of security for our schools is a major component of this project. The news doors can be automatically locked with fob-only access so that only authorized Temple Sinai school personnel to access the school wings when classes are in session.

Work has also started on the Book Nook Lantern, which will enclose the stairwell and create a cozy reading space for young students. Finishing work continues as interior column casings are installed and floor tiling is completed on our inner stairs.

Finally, structural work on the exterior of the South Entrance is in progress, with initial concrete and brickwork completed around the support columns and sides.

Secure school upper doors: The new doors to the upper school hallway have been installed with fob key restrictions.

While the holidays are a time for rest and relaxation for many, the South Addition construction continues at full speed! In the past couple of weeks, the hardwood flooring and carpeting has been added in the new rooms and interior doors have been installed. The windows and lights have been completed and the space is getting closer and closer to its final form. In the coming weeks, we expect to finish installing cabinets along with painting and other final details—all culminating with an expected furniture delivery in late January!

As always, please reach out to Noah Benjamin if you would like to tour the addition or have questions about supporting the campaign.

As you plan your end-of-year charitable giving, if you have yet to do so, please consider joining the over 550 others who have donated to make this vision a reality.

Keep an eye out for more updates in the new year!

Wood flooring installation in the Community Lounge (now completed)

The South Addition is getting closer and closer to completion! The South Entrance glasswork, called “the storefront” in construction terms, has been installed along with the other windows. Additionally, lighting and custom wood ceiling work has been completed and tile flooring has been installed in the upper and lower lobbies. Walls are now being finished including custom tile accents. It is also exciting to see the Book Nook take shape at the base of the staircase. Up next inside: completing the interior finishes including door and window trim, installing carpet and wood flooring in the side-rooms, installing the Terrace flooring and rail, and finally, painting. Work outdoors includes preparing for the eventual exit from the addition to the playground and the bioretention structures.

As we reach the end of 2023, after 5 years of fundraising with a pandemic wedged in the middle, we are closing active fundraising for the Honor our Heritage Build our Future Campaign. Over 500 member families have contributed to support this project and we are hoping to expand that number as much as possible before the year-end. If you have yet to support the campaign, please consider making a multi-year pledge or a donation to join this collective effort. All pledges or donations dated before the end of the year will be acknowledged on our donor wall, which will be prominently displayed in the South Addition.

A beautiful view of the building at twilight, with lights shining out from the new windows