Construction is now underway in West Bloomfield, Michigan, at Temple Israel, a Reform Jewish synagogue founded in 1941. The $4.5 million addition to Temple Israel is to be built by Detroit-based Sachse Construction.
The 12,100-square-foot addition will expand various community offerings, with six new classrooms, a music room, a teaching greenhouse and a learning center with a kitchen. This expansion will also include a connector between the existing building and the new addition known as the bridge, which will feature a 20-foot clerestory surrounding a playground area.
Sachse Construction is the construction manager on the project, while Stuart J. Fine & Associates, Inc. is the architect of record.
The new building exterior will match the aesthetic of the existing structure, with the clerestory designed to emphasize the day-lighted environment with extra protective features for children who will use the space. Inside, the corridors will be lined with colorful features, including a patterned carpet specially designed for the congregation. Across the property, the Temple will undergo a complete overhaul of the existing 20-acre storm water system.