Masonry Magazine June 1974 Page. 30
Charles River Park Synagogue
(Continued from page 8)
The architectural firm of Childs Bertman Tseckares Associates, Inc. was commissioned to create "a little jewel" that would represent the strong feeling of unity that characterized the old North Russell Street Shul, and the will of the members that refused to allow it to be forever lost. Ground was broken in 1971, 12 years after the original shul was taken.
The central objectives in designing the new synagogue were: 1) to help the visitor make the transition from the noise and activity of downtown Boston to a place of religion and quiet contemplation, and 2) to visually minimize the size contrast between the shul itself and the surrounding towers. The architects established a graded series of interlocking garden walls that aid in the adjustment from outside to enclosed entrance to lobby.
Another technique is the chambered, abstract configuration of the design and curves and angles of the walls. They are plays on an abstract theme to center the attention on the shul itself and away from the tendency to perceive the synagogue in a size-comparison framework with the massive surrounding apartment buildings.
Interior space is arranged around the main sanctuary, with a translucent ceiling sloping from a height of 25' at the front to 10' at the rear. Natural light from the sky roof gives a feeling of spaciousness and warmth to the sanctuary, the ark, bima and men's seating area.
The sanctuary space flows into another area that can be used for seating during services or as a separate social hall. (A concealed sliding partition on an overhead track can divide the space when needed.) Sliding glass doors open onto an enclosed ceremonial courtyard utilized in good weather for weddings, bar mitzvahs and at Sukkoth, the fall harvest festival.
Translucent skyroof of insulated plastic introduces warmth of natural light into the sanctuary area of the Charles River Park Synagogue. For evening events, the glow of fluorescent lights mounted on struts is visible from surrounding apartment towers. An elevated women's seating area (an orthodox tradition) is behind the trio of arches.
Approximately 250 persons can be accommodated in the carpeted sanctuary and social hall. A separate women's seating area is situated behind a trio of arches. Childs Bertman Tseckares Associates also designed the landscaping of the courtyard and tree screens.
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Minnesota Loadbearing Design Seminar
More than 75 architects, building officials, mason contractors and engineers participated in a seminar on loadbearing concrete masonry design sponsored by the Minnesota Masonry Institute in the Twin City area. The seminar, which six block producers helped to co-sponsor, was conducted by Henry Toennies, vice president-technical services for the National Concrete Masonry Association, Washington, D.C. In addition lectures, design examples and audience participation, local cost and case studies were presented by Bruce Baumann, P.E., Charles M. Freidheim Co., and Roger Heid, P.E., Anchor Block Co., two of the sponsoring firms. The other sponsors were Hanson Block & Tile, Johnson-Bigler Block Co., Model Stone Co., and Oscar Roberts Co.
masonry
• June, 1974