CC Spotlight

Temple Sinai is a community dedicated to being Shomrei Adamah, guardians of the land, and to upholding our community values of environmental stewardship. When designing our Renovation & Expansion plan, we worked closely with Temple Sinai’s Green Team to ensure the South Addition lived up to these values and continued the work we started when solar panels were installed on our roof several years ago.

As part of the plan, we are constructing three sections of stormwater bio-retention, going above and beyond the DC governmental requirements. These bio-retention ponds will gather over 3,000 excess gallons of stormwater annually, filtering the water through local plant-life and natural means, before discharging the water into our local watershed. This will mean Temple Sinai is doing its small part to keep Broad Branch Creek—and subsequently Rock Creek, the Potomac River, and the Chesapeake Bay—cleaner.

Beyond the water management aspects of the plan, we have also incorporated significant energy efficiency items and other environmentally friendly aspects into our South Addition: All the lighting in the addition will be energy efficient LED, much will be automated with the use of day light harvesting and vacancy sensors, the HVAC systems will be using energy efficient VRV systems for heating and cooling, the plumbing systems are designed to reduce water use, there will be higher levels of exterior insulation values included glazing units, our finish selections are environmentally friendly and eco sensitive products, and all paints and adhesives are VOC-free.

If you have questions or want to learn more about the environmental aspects of the plan, please reach out to Noah Benjamin, Director of Development, at nbenjamin@templesinaidc.org.

Below you can see the work on these environmental aspects of the plan in progress, including the digging of the stormwater bio-retention ponds and the installation of the energy efficient insulation and wiring.

Current progress of the building exterior

The Covid pandemic highlighted our need to have outdoor gathering and worship space within the security perimeter of the building. The new Terrace is designed to meet that need and is an adaptation of the space originally envisioned when we began this project 5 years ago.

The Terrace will be accessible from the second level of the new South Addition, just north of the Beit Midrash and overlooking the playground. The space will have a multi-use pergola, allowing it to be covered or uncovered. This new space presents exciting new opportunities for indoor-outdoor temple programs and worship and can also be used for B’nei Mitzvah celebrations and other private rental events.

This is one of many spaces that is open to naming opportunities through the Honor our Heritage Build our Future Campaign. If beautiful outdoor program and worship spaces are particularly meaningful to you, we hope you will consider making a Cornerstone pledge to have this space named in your honor. Questions? Reach out to our leadership team here.

Thanks to CGS Architects for the renderings below.

This is a bird’s-eye view of the Terrace from the northwest includes the pergola. At the far end are doors to the Beit Midrash, and on the left side are doors to the Upper Lobby across from the Social Hall. Below the Terrace you can see the walls of the first floor of the South Addition, where the multi-purpose flex space and the new member lounge are located.

Located along the southern side of the building where the current school awning is, the new South Plaza helps accomplish the goal of incorporating more accessible outdoor gathering space. Here, members will have the space to sit and enjoy the nature and sunlight of our beautiful grounds. Students will be able to safely wait to be picked up by parents and caretakers. Additionally, the plaza incorporates an ADA-accessible ramp up to the level of our new South main entrance.

The naming opportunity for this South Plaza has been claimed.

Thanks to CGS Architects for the renderings below.

This bird’s-eye view of the south side of the building includes the South Plaza, the new main entrance, the south addition façade on the left, and the existing building façade on the right. Note the ease of access from the parking lot and the inclusion of a bicycle rack.

Among the many security improvements gained from the renovation and expansion project, one of the most important is placing the School wing behind a second set of secure doors. Additionally, the renovation allows the schools to reclaim the space under the current school stairwell (by the elevator) and turn it into a “Book Nook” designed for our early readers to explore books in a safe, secure, comfortable, and developmentally appropriate setting. In the design renderings below, you can see several angles showcasing different aspects of this unique new space, which lies just beyond the new main lobby.

This is one of many spaces that are open to naming opportunities through the Honor our Heritage Build our Future Campaign. If early childhood development & reading and our early childhood school programs are something that are particularly meaningful to you, we hope you will consider making a Cornerstone pledge to have this space named in your honor. Questions? Reach out to our leadership team here.

Here is the Book Nook inside the secured school wing. On the bottom right (south) are the secure doors separating the school wing from the new main lobby. To the left of those doors is the Book Nook. Further left is a school storage closet and doors to the existing school hallways.

The South Addition re-orients the “front” of Temple Sinai to a south entrance by the parking lot. This new entrance improves the accessibility, increases the security, and enhances the feeling of community for all those who enter our shared spiritual home. In the design renderings below, you can take a virtual tour of what it will look like to enter Temple Sinai through the South Addition.

As you enter the building you pass through two sets of secure glass double doors, welcoming members & visitors with a beautiful view into the life of the temple interior while also providing the modern standard in entry security.

Based on a creative idea from the Temple Sinai Nursery School leadership, the new “outdoor classroom,” tucked away between the Bet Am and the school wing, provides our littlest students with a cozy and secure area all their own. What was once an unused space is now filled with inviting activity stations and a natural setting for learning and play. Visible from the Bet Am, this beautiful play space allows all congregants to feel connected to the joy and creativity emanating from Temple Sinai Nursery School students and faculty.