Bolton Street Synagogue

The design for a new synagogue on Bolton Street in Baltimore prioritized maximizing space and minimizing footprint. Taking advantage of a sloping site, a two-floor scheme was developed with this efficiency in mind. Visitors enter through either two levels of parking and move between floors via a lobby and grand stair. The sanctuary itself consists of a central bima beneath high clerestory windows. Seating on three sides allows for intimate services, and on high holy day services, partitions are opened into the social hall to accommodate the greater number of attendees. Throughout the synagogue, contemporary forms take from traditional materials, retaining a connection to the past.