The building, on North Broad Street at Columbia, was built in 1914 as the religious school of the Keneseth Israel Reform Congregation. The building served as a synagogue and subsequently, upon being acquired by Temple University thirty years ago, for various university purposes.
The building, on North Broad Street at Columbia, was built in 1914 as the religious school of the Keneseth Israel Reform Congregation. The building served as a synagogue and subsequently, upon being acquired by Temple University thirty years ago, for various university purposes.
The primary purpose for the renovation was the creation of a chamber music recital hall to serve teaching and public performance functions. In addition, a music library, administrative offices, and acoustically separated faculty studios, class-rooms and practice rooms and computerized music laboratories completed the program directives. Working within the constraints of the existing building envelope and neoclassical facade the design strengthens existing architectural characteristics and accommodates the program through a series of limited, articulated insertions and removals particular to each space.
On the entrance level are teaching studios and the Audition Room used for admissions reviews, performance green room and doctoral defenses. Within this square, acoustically isolated room, the ceiling is an 'instrument', consisting of wood and metal panels 'fractured' and folded to diffuse sound. Continuing the progression to the new recital hall are two main stairways with slate treads and stainless steel details. While the performances on stage are the literal focal point of the hall, a new proscenium, stage and surround are the figural focal point. The proscenium frame consists of maple and mahogany panels on a steel frame. The woven pattern of solid to void of the panels was designed to provide acoustically opaque and transparent surfaces for sound to reflect or pass through the panels increasing the hall's resonance. The panels are supported by steel struts, with ball jointed connections, arranged in a three-dimensional truss pattern attached to a steel tube frame to form the parabolic shapes of the proscenium faces.
© 1997– KieranTimberlake
[ 420 N 20 Street, Philadelphia PA 19130.3828 | V 215 922 6600 F 215 922 4680 ]
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