Temple Shir Tikvah
Winchester, MA
Located near the Common among other historic places of worship, the Temple Shir Tikvah is Winchester’s first synagogue. The three-story structure of approximately 7,000 square feet will include a new Sanctuary to seat 175 people, a multi-purpose room, 8 classrooms, and offices. For the first time in its 13 year history, the congregation will have all its facilities in one location.
The project will utilize extensive reconstruction and adaptive reuse of an existing structure on the site. The design issues include seismic design for the building’s change in use to a house of worship from a multi-family residential use; investigative work to determine extent of previous fire damage; structural analysis of the building’s wood timber and steel structure; zoning analysis for the site design to meet parking and wetland regulations.
The addition of a new formal entrance with a covered porch and double stairway will enhance the front facade. A new elevator will be added at the side of the building for handicapped accessibility. Individual chairs and moveable partitions will accommodate a variety of social or religious gatherings, as will a new terrace at the rear of the building with tranquil views of the adjacent Wedge Pond.
As the first synagogue in the town, the congregation’s goal was to achieve a flexible worship and classroom space and to create a new image for the temple in the community
Past uses of the structure includes a VFW Hall and apartment building.
