FULL STORYMazel Tov: The Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation (Evanston, IL) Attains LEED Platinum Certification
By Adam Busch, Co-Publisher & Owner, Green Space Today
Evanston, IL, a suburb neighboring Chicago’s northern border, Lake Michigan, and home to Northwestern University, is in the midst of a green conversion. In June 2009, the Winthrop Club, slated to be the greenest residential high-rise in the Midwest, will be completed in Evanston. The Winthrop Club will accompany another magnificent structure that resides in the same community, The Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation (JRC)-the greenest house of worship in the United States.
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| The JRC, Evanston, IL Steve Hall © Hedrich Blessing |
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| Carol Ross Barney, FAIA, Founder and Principal, Ross Barney Architects Courtesy of Ross Barney Architects |
On February 10, 2008, the JRC opened its ceremonial, two-story door to its members. The door was milled out of maple trees that were cut down and reclaimed during construction of the JRC (the JRC’s new synagogue is located on the same lot as its previous building). When congregants entered the new synagogue, they entered the first and only LEED Platinum certified house of worship in the United States.
Clearly, there are many reasons for going green, but for the JRC, there was an additional, theological reason for its sustainable development- the Jewish principle of Bal Tashchit (Deuteronomy 20:19–20)-which in Hebrew means “do not waste.”
The synagogue displays many sustainable elements. The design of the JRC was provided by the renowned architectural firm Ross Barney Architects. The firm applied a modern, sustainable design that reflects JRC’s creed and congregational atmosphere.
| In an interview with Green Space Today, Carol Ross Barney, FAIA, Founder and Principal, Ross Barney Architects, said “The JRC wanted the building to not only be sustainable, but to look sustainable as well.” |
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| The JRC, Evanston, IL Steve Hall © Hedrich Blessing |
Green components of the synagogue include:
- recycled cypress that was applied to the exterior of the space;
- a white reflective roof to lessen the urban heat island effect and reduce the need for air conditioning during hot and humid summer months;
- high efficiency windows;
- boilers that are 95% efficient;
- dual-flush toilets;
- and low-VOC paint.
| In an interview with Green Space Today, Ray Wojkovich, Senior Project Manager, Bulley & Andrews (the General Contractor for the project) said, “There was an existing structure that came down and we crushed the concrete and re-used it on-site for backfill for the new building.” |
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| Ray Wojkovich, Senior Project Manager, Bulley & Andrews Courtesy of Bulley & Andrews |
The new facility has brought positive results. In addition to being a healthier facility for members and the local ecosystem, the building has been economically advantageous. During its first year of operations, the JRC saved close to $25K in energy costs alone.
| Alan Saposnik, the JRC’s Past President and residing member of the Board of Directors, told Green Space Today, “We wanted to create a ‘wow’ factor and the overall reaction has been fantastic. People are excited about our synagogue and are taking advantage of the space. Membership has gone up slightly, but in today’s environment, most churches and temples are losing members.” |
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| Alan Saposnik, the JRC’s Past President and residing member of the Board of Directors Courtesy of the JRC. |
While religious institutions and houses of worship have been relatively more hesitant to adopt sustainability as a cornerstone, some temples, churches, and mosques are slowly becoming greener and the JRC has set a new environmental precedent.
To learn more about the relationship between Judaism and the environment, we recommend that you visit the following sites:
http://www.wzo.org.il/en/resources/view.asp?id=63&subject=24
http://www.coejl.org/learn/index.php
http://tevalearningcenter.org/resources.asp
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| The JRC's sanctuary. Steve Hall © Hedrich Blessing |
