Beth Jacob Synagogue

Nestled at the heart of its devoted community, the illustrious Beth Jacob Synagogue in Columbus, OH stands as a living testament to history and faith. Beth Jacob Synagogue has represented beauty, longevity, faith, history, and culture for its congregation for over a century.  

About the Beth Jacob Project

We were tasked with the complex challenge of preservation and modernization. We needed to maintain the beloved sanctuary’s awe-inspiring essence while imbuing it with fresh and imaginative elements to elevate the worship experience and foster a thriving center for knowledge within the schul's walls.

Beth Jacob’s captivating stained-glass window and grandiose arc are just a few ways this sanctuary’s architecture has enriched the prayer and spiritual experience. Our designs needed to capture the essence of the community, its history, and culture while allowing for an ever-growing, diverse community with modern programming and contemporary themes. 

Changing the Perspective By Making Seating Re-arrangements

In order to nurture a bond between congregants and their worship, we embarked on the daring approach of rearranging the seating. We centered the design around a contemporary bima, which has become the spiritual epicenter of the sanctuary. These arrangements help to foster inclusiveness, and intimacy, drawing worshipers closer to their faith and each other. 

Innovative Solutions That Foster Growth + Learning

Upon thoughtful conversation, we quickly identified the lobby as an obstacle as it became an area that amplified noise and distraction to those in the sanctuary. Instead of simply manipulating the space to reduce noise, we saw this as an opportunity to encourage learning and spiritual growth through adding a library to act as a buffer between the sanctuary and lobby. Congregants can deepen their understanding of their faith and engage in lifelong learning. 

Balancing Tradition + Innovation 

We carefully considered the existing architecture while embracing opportunities to move this sanctuary into the present. We enhanced the entrance with a modern steel canopy to symbolize faith and invitation. We also added a concrete paver patio to welcome congregants to gather, pray, or receive blessings.
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Location: Columbus, OH

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