What about the downstairs women’s restroom? (Activity Report)

THE FIRST PHASE of the multiyear renovation project in our historic sanctuary building is well underway. As its contours have taken shape, observers have naturally asked: Why are only 3 of the 4 restrooms being addressed at this time—what about the downstairs women’s restroom?

A stall in the basement women’s room

Below the jump, this post gives the back story, to explain why we are not touching that restroom during Phase 1.… 

Inventory of surfaces containing lead: Sanctuary building

IN OUR HISTORIC sanctuary building, most of the surfaces do not appear to contain an amount of lead that warrants special treatment during rehabilitation or renovation projects. However, a few of the surfaces would require abatement if disturbed.

Below the jump, this post lists the surveys that have been conducted to my knowledge, and their results.…

Implications of the foundation plan for renovations (Background Report)

LAST MONTH, we received a revised plan from our structural engineering consultant. One crucial aspect was their assessment of the concrete foundation that is needed underneath the basement floor, to support the loads from the structure above. 

The renovation plan, as submitted to the City for review, calls for demolishing the existing walls of the basement men’s room and its adjacent small corridor, in order to install three new strong structural walls atop new concrete footings.

Foundation plan around the basement men’s room

To produce this illustration, I have adapted the engineer’s drawing, by cropping a section and then simplifying the structural elements and adding the blue labels and lines for orientation. 

Below the jump, I interpret the illustration and discuss its implications for synagogue programs.… 

Weighing the alternative to an elevator (Speculation)

ONE OF THE many reasons to provide wheelchair access to the basement is to achieve Mishkon’s own renovation priorities. Those priorities include the installation of proper HVAC systems in the basement (Social Hall and kitchen). It appears that according to the state building code’s Section 11B-202.4 (quite apart from the ADA), we will not be allowed to even start those projects unless we can show how someone in a wheelchair can travel to and from the basement.  

In order to provide such access, it appears that Mishkon has two options: 

• spend roughly $200K for an inclined platform lift in the east stairwell (as described here), or 
• spend roughly $400K for a small elevator (as discussed here and here).

Below the jump, this post briefly discusses the trade-offs involved in that big decision.

Wheelchair access to basement via the eastern stairwell (Speculation)

BEFORE WE COMMIT to a small elevator (or not), let’s consider one other way for a wheelchair user to get to the basement level: via the east stairwell that runs between the sanctuary building and the play yard. 

Few members even know of this stairwell’s existence, because Mishkon has long treated it as an emergency-only exit. It is located outdoors yet is covered by a shed roof and shielded from the play yard by opaque wooden fencing. 

For wheelchair access, when compared to the more familiar west (Main Street) stairwell, this east stairwell has two advantages: 

1. it offers a straight and uninterrupted route between ground level and the basement level; and 
2. its ground-level entry point would be close to the Hampton Drive street-level gate, and next to the planned ADA-accessible ramp into the sanctuary—meaning that someone who arrives in a wheelchair would already be in the vicinity. 

Could an inclined platform lift run along a track mounted in this stairwell?

Below the jump, this post explores the feasibility of that option for improved accessibility. It concludes with a ballpark cost estimate.…

What do engineering consultants do? A banner example (Activity Report)

UNDER OUR ARCHITECT’S direction, our mechanical engineering consultant has specified the ventilation equipment for our expanded main-floor restrooms. This will allow the City to verify that our plans will meet the state building code, and it will enable the contractor to procure the proper materials and install them correctly. 

Because this kind of work is more visual and tangible than some other engineering tasks, it can serve as a good illustration of what our consultants have been doing for us. Below the jump, this post lets the images do the talking. It features the mechanical engineer’s set of 12 general notes, plus three of his diagrams.…

First 6 months of Phase 1 renovations: Preparatory steps (Activity Report)

IN LATE OCTOBER, our architect (along with a pair of synagogue representatives) had two productive meetings with City officials. They conducted an initial review of the planned Phase 1 of renovations. Both of those meetings settled a number of uncertainties. That result now enables us to move forward with our Phase 1 renovations. It also provides a good opportunity to take stock of what has been accomplished during the 6 months (this week) that the project has now been formally underway.

Below the jump, this post provides a progress report, along with a brief look at what comes next.…

Mishkon engages architect for Phase 1 of multi-year renovations (Activity Report)

MISHKON SIGNED A CONTRACT in May with KCK Architects, an accomplished historic preservation firm, to oversee Phase 1 of renovations in our historic sanctuary building. After meeting with representatives of seven firms, I recommended this one as the best suited for our needs among those available to undertake our project.

The planned work is to be carried out in several phases over a period of 3–4 years. The only phase we have contracted for at present is the first one, which includes restroom remodeling (lobby level), lobby reno­vation, and the siting/integration of a possible elevator, within the context of an overall entry accessibility plan. Fu­ture phases are subject to approval by the board and/or B&G Committee.

Below the jump, this post discusses the background, the need, and the architect’s services to be performed—with brief status notes as we near the 6-month mark.…