2022 AIA CA DESIGN AWARDS
merit award
Kol Emeth
Architect: Field Architecture
Architect on Record: EID Architects
Project Location: Palo Alto, California
Photographer: Joe Fletcher
Congregation Kol Emeth’s new home fosters its community’s religious
practice while also embracing the natural world as a source of spiritual
wellbeing. Three interwoven structures contain a sanctuary, classrooms,
administrative and multi-purpose areas, and a native garden. The indoor and
outdoor spaces flow together seamlessly to physically and visually connect congregants
with their surroundings. Kol Emeth is the first LEED Platinum synagogue to also
be a Net Zero Energy and Net Zero Water Building for irrigation.
“Well detailed without being fussy. A beautiful building marrying a highly successful sustainable approach with materials creating rich, layered, textured spaces.” – 2022 Design Awards Jury
Design for Integration
The synagogue complex integrates high energy performance with natural materials and systems to create a finely-tuned spiritual experience. The organization of its three volumes—along with key design details such as skylights, clerestories, and sliding glass walls—enhance daylighting and minimize heat gain. Project components were fabricated offsite, minimizing the construction footprint and construction waste. Recycled and reclaimed materials reduce the building’s embodied energy. Surface water is collected and biofiltered, and solar energy is harvested.
Design for Equitable Communities
Kol Emeth sustainability strategy began with site and connectivity. Out of 5 alternate locations researched, the existing lot was selected for its connection to existing pedestrian and bicycle networks.
Skylights, clerestories, and full length sliding glass partition walls, create an environment which includes the outdoors in indoor functions, and provides a connection the surrounding environment in every space of the building.
A street facing promenade garden traverses the length of the building’s primary façade. The garden places a working natural system along the entire length of the building, which functions as an integral outer-layer of the building, and an invitation to the extended community to leave the car at home and walk.
Design for Ecosystems
The footprint of the building was optimized to house parking underneath the above grade developed surfaces, maximizing retention of native soil and removing no trees. This also allowed elimination of parking heat island effect and contaminated surface runoff. Surface water shed is biofiltered, and collected for an eco-balanced native garden and soil mix that restores the natural ecology of the region and fosters pollenating songbirds, animals, and insects. A street facing promenade garden traverses the length of the building’s primary façade. The garden places a working natural system along the entire length of the building, which functions as an integral outer-layer of the building.
Design for Water
The footprint of the building was optimized to house parking underneath the above grade developed surfaces, maximizing retention of native soil and removing no trees. This also allowed elimination of parking heat island effect and contaminated surface runoff. Surface water shed is biofiltered, and collected for an eco-balanced native garden and soil mix that restores the natural ecology of the region and fosters pollenating songbirds, animals, and insects.
The building employs a comprehensive rainwater catchment system. Native landscape is designed based on rain water harvesting and gray water catchment yield for a net zero irrigation landscape.
Design for Economy
A restrictive budget for the fully fund-raised building required innovative solutions early in the design process and disciplined follow through during development. The rigor of the process began with the selection of the site. Several sites were evaluated, and ultimately, the decision was made to build on the existing building site despite its stringent size limitations. This demanded that right sizing the buildings look to creative spatial configurations in order to accommodate the changing needs of the community.
Building economy was incorporated into the design thinking from its inception. Strategic thinking behind the fabrication, assembly, building sequence, and timing allowed the double benefit of stable costs and controlled timeline – allowing the control of two volatile elements in today’s construction market.
Design for Energy
The building is Net Zero Energy, harvesting solar energy through a 136kW Photovoltaic system, which in addition to providing power for the buildings accommodates installed EV charging for 25% of all stalls, and infrastructure allowing expansion to 90% of all stalls. Strategically placed skylights allow for the re-purposing of parking space to programmed play, learning, and flexible spaces, designed and issued as part of the project documentation.
The material strategy for the building looks to reuse, reclaim, and reduce embodied energy and carbon footprint. Recycled re-bar, fly ash concrete, advanced framing, and OSB Structurally Insulated Panels were used as the building’s primary structural materials. The structure is insulated on the interior and exterior faces. Interior ceilings are lined with renewable woven hemp ceiling panels, over which timber slats are hung to modulate daylight from the skylights above, while creating a dappled light show that enlivens the spaces of congregation, and expands awareness of the movement of the sun.
Design for Well-being
As the first synagogue in the world to achieve LEED Platinum, net zero energy, and net zero water, Kol Emeth is designed for the well being of its users. Structure and skin are fabricated and finished off-site to reduce footprint and waste. Air quality, daylight, and views were used as design drivers.
Orientation and apertures are calibrated for optimal daylighting and solar gain control. Skylights, clerestories, and full length sliding glass partitions, create an environment which includes the indoor/outdoors functions, and provides a connection to the surrounding environment and views from every space of the building.
Design for Resources
The material strategy for Kol Emeth looks to reuse, reclaim, and reduce embodied energy and carbon footprint. Recycled steel, fly ash concrete, advanced framing, and Structurally Insulated Panels were used as the building’s structural materials. Interior ceilings are lined with renewable hemp panels, and timber slats are hung to modulate daylight from skylights above, while creating a dappled light that enlivens the spaces, and expands awareness of the movement of the sun.
Five North American weather-resistant wood species comprise the façade lattice. The timbers are reclaimed “shorts” – wood pieces too short for the mills to sell, and timber downed by wildfires, many of which were diverted from landfill. Local & regional material sourcing, natural weather resistant materials, low carbon concrete, and recycled glass cast countertops are among a number of the strategies employed in reducing environmental impact.
Design for Change
Since Kol Emeth’s completion in 2020, the congregation has increased its programming substantially, and has seen a significant increase in membership. The design was posed with an unprecedented challenge with changing social engagement patterns brought about by the global pandemic almost concurrently with its opening days. With flexibility, contiguous indoor outdoor programming, and cross-functionality at the core of its design, the building use was adjusted and a new modus operandi developed that provided an enduring sense of connection when it was needed most.
Rising mean temperatures and extreme weather events were designed for using a hyper-insulated envelope, well beyond code minimum. Together with strategic aperture sizing and orientation, glass and shading, the building provides for a passive moderation of temperature extremes – creating a high level of thermal comfort without reliance on mechanical systems.
Innovative security mitigation strategies were used throughout relying not only on technological solutions but also on analogue and social strategies. Entrances and exits are places in proximity to gathering spaces with direct visual connection so that community members can monitor safety. Security bollards on the street side of the building were avoided by the use of carefully placed landscape boulders integrated into the edge of the community garden.
Design for Discovery
Beyond full systems commissioning, all project constituents were incorporated into the design process from the earliest stages. This resulted in a strong feeling of ownership and personal and collective investment in the successful realization of an ambitious design.
Post occupancy surveys have been conducted regularly, adaptations made when needed, and each validates the success of the project further. Given the high level of flexibility that the project was designed for, some initial challenges for the best use of the spaces came to light in the early days of the building’s occupancy. These challenges require ongoing experience design and architectural involvement in facility programming. The adaptations made to the programming not only optimized use of the spaces, but given the unique nature of the indoor / outdoor flexibility, also resulted in unexpected and innovative programming that was well received by the community.