Sustainable Synagogue: Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation (JRC) in Evanston
303 W. Dodge Ave.
Address
303 W. Dodge Ave, Evanston 60202 Map
Architect
Ross Barney Architects
Civil Engineer
Infrastructure Engineering
MEP Engineer
EYP Mission Critical Facilities
Structural Engineer
CE Anderson
General Contractor
Bulley and Andrews LLC.
Landscaping
Oslund Associates
Commissioning
Cotter Consulting
By Mike Russo
The members of the Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation (JRC) in Evanston have demonstrated their commitment, not just in thought, but by their actions, to a concept introduced in the book of Genesis, which states that the children of Abraham must follow the code of Tikkun Olam, or repairing the world. They believe that it is their duty to improve the condition of the world which they have inherited. JRC’s commitment to Tikkun Olam is readily apparent in their newly constructed LEED® Platinum certified congregation center on Dodge Avenue.
JRC has put into action in their new facility in Evanston the concept of sustainability and environmental awareness .
From reusing materials from the previous structure, to milling the trees that were displaced during construction into the front doors of the building, the atmosphere of this facility is warm all year long. Though present everywhere on site, this is hugely evident in some of the choices made for the exterior of the building and surrounding grounds.
Strategically placed environmentally friendly windows allow for day lighting to fill the 32,000 sq. ft. interior with bright, natural, warm sunlight, without all excess heat and glare. Concrete, brick, and limestone from other local demolition sites were crushed on-site and placed into wire cages to create gabion rubble walls that enclose the edges of gardens and children’s playgrounds. The concrete and brick from the original site was ground and used as engineering fill for the foundation of the new building. The building also plays host to a storm water detention garden, which lowers the amount of water that filters into the storm sewer from the property by 30%. This not only helps reuse a precious resource; it also prevents flooding, which is still one of the biggest reasons for home and structure loss nationwide. The exterior and interior wood paneling was milled from reclaimed Cypress, which was found in old mushroom houses in Southern Canada.
On the inside of the building, low flow toilets and energy efficient sinks and appliances compliment the aforementioned storm detention garden, bringing the total water savings to about 41% of a comparable structure’s use. Reclaimed Cypress slats line the walls and many ceilings. These slats serve a multitude of purposes. The slats provide a warm look and great acoustics barrier. Additionally, the slats in the room of prayer and public gathering, known as the sanctuary, serve as covers for the hidden HVAC displacement system. Reclaimed dark walnut from fallen or diseased trees from the Chicago Park District was milled for the steps and surface of the raised podium in the sanctuary. Flooring throughout the building is no more than exposed concrete that has been polished, saving the money and resources required for a new floor. Even the woodwork and cabinets throughout the building are made of pressed sunflower seeds, a rapidly renewable wood-like source.
The building has two HVAC systems. The one in the sanctuary is a displacement system. This means that instead of heat being released from the top of the room, where it can travel the least, heat is rerouted and released from the bottom of the room’s surrounding walls. This is much more energy efficient because the system does not require as much electricity to pump heat into the room, and the heat is released at the bottom where it is most needed. This system is also less noisy that traditional HVAC systems.
Although this system is more expensive than a traditional HVAC system, it has an energy savings payback of five to seven years, which is lightning-fast in the area of heating and ventilation. Although this system is not in every room, it is in the biggest room, which also has the highest traffic of visitors.
The second, more traditional HVAC system has a programmable weekly calendar, which allows the system to heat rooms and hallways only when in use. To do this, the congregation and the architectural team went through any given week’s schedule of the building’s use, and decided what rooms needed to be heated or cooled, and when. As an added bonus, because the rooms are so well insulated, even when not receiving heating or cooling, the rooms never get too cold or too hot. Interestingly, not only are building concepts helpful in themselves, but they tend to also compliment each other.
Kim Patten at Ross Barne, expressed only one regret about the project, “We really wish we could have incorporated a green roof system, or even lined the roof with enough solar power to significantly reduce their electricity costs,” said Patten. “Due to budget constraints, however, this unfortunately could not happen.”
Patten relayed that although the congregation did not have a green or solar roof in budget, Ross Barney did do a few things for the congregation that were within their budget. The firm was able to have stone shipped from Jerusalem to the site, where it sits today mingled in with other stone on the walls that line the stairways and the first floor. Also, the congregation was able to install one solar panel on the building’s 10,000 sq. ft. of roof. It now powers the building’s two Eternal Lights, an unarguable gesture of good will and hope for all people who visit the Evanston facility.
To the people of the congregation, this was a both a process and a struggle to keep their sacred and ethical promise of maintaining the world they love so much. To everyone, it is a monument to thinking green, regardless of faith.
Tags: daylighting, fsc wood, hvac, LEED® Platinum synagogue, renewable wood, solar electric, storm-water retention displacement
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