The Board, at its February 9th meeting, approved a modified building design, recommended by the Rebuild Committee, which serves to substantially reduce the building cost while maintaining the same general appearance, spirituality, functionality, and footprint as the earlier design.

Ed Dreyfus, Chair of the Rebuild Committee, reported that the main differences include reducing the 14,000 sq ft building to about 10,000 sq ft by eliminating the second floor class rooms, bathroom, and balcony. Instead, class rooms are now designed into the first level front section leaving generous sizing for the board room/library and office as well as the men’s and women’s bathrooms. In response to Board member questions about future expansion of the building, Ed pointed out that this new design enables, in some future project, the easy addition of two rooms (one perhaps a chapel) north of the sanctuary and two additional rooms west of the kitchen.

This new design preserves the social hall size capable of seating 200 for dinner and dancing, catered receptions, banquets, concerts, and other forms of activities and functions, while the sanctuary, when closed, can still seat over 100 persons, and , when open to the social hall, can seat 400-500 for the High Holidays.

Ed also reported that it is yet possible to move the project along to meet a 2010 construction schedule and a (spring) 2011 occupancy date, such that JCC membership can enjoy the new building and plan for Bar/Bat mitzvahs, weddings, High Holidays, and other events in our own building. However, this ambitious schedule greatly depends upon immediate financial dedication and participation from JCC members. Confident JCC members shall immediately and financially support this project, the Rebuild Committee looks forward to the construction phase of erecting a building of which we can all be proud.

Ed Dreyfus, Chair Rebuild Committee

Click below to view and print JCC Modified Building Design exterior image

JCC modified design building exterior

Click below to view and print JCC Modified Building Design interior layout

JCC modified design building interior layout

Update 2/9/10 kps