NEW LOOK—Congregation Neveh Shalom’s new look includes the Stampfer Chapel at left, a new administration building at right and a covered portico to a courtyard in front of the main sanctuary, plus many renovations throughout the existing structures. Completion is expected in September, with several aspects of the project wrapping up this month.

Neveh Shalom’s expansion near done

By Paul Haist

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The dust will settle this month and next as the new construction and renovation at Congregation Neveh Shalom is on track to meet late-summer and early fall target dates for completion—in time for the High Holidays and the start of school.

Neveh Shalom Executive Director Fred Rothstein said that the general contractor, S.D. Deacon of Portland, is “working like crazy on all fronts” with “anywhere from 50-70 workers on site at any one time.”

Rothstein said there are multiple completion dates throughout August and into September for the project, which includes the addition of a new chapel—the Stampfer Chapel, a new administration building, renovation of the religious school, renovation of the preschool and renovation of the sanctuary.

The $9-million capital campaign project, which includes $1 million for the operating endowment, will add approximately 14,000 square feet to the pre-existing approximately 60,000 square feet.

“This has been the most ambitious project since the construction of the original building in 1964,” said Rothstein.

Rothstein pointed proudly to state-of-the-art, cost-saving environmental technologies incorporated into the project by architect Henry Fitzgibbons, a principal of Soderstrom Architects of Portland.

These include heating and air-conditioning systems, lighting, water usage, construction materials and new operating policies.

Rothstein said the new construction is on target to achieve silver status under the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building Rating System. That is one step above being merely “certified” green and only two steps below the highest rating.

Rothstein explained that this is important not only for environmental considerations but will also help mitigate otherwise higher costs of operating the larger facility.

Ground was officially broken for the expansion project last November. Rothstein said that “the need to address the physical plant” had been part of Neveh Shalom’s strategic plan since before he was hired in 2001.