Honor Award for Religious Architecture: Renovation

Neumann/Smith Architecture

Detroit, MI

As Detroit’s only free-standing synagogue, the Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue welcomes a diverse group of individuals in the Metro Detroit Jewish community. The revitalized synagogue provides an inclusive space for events, work, and worship. By reinventing how the spaces function, the new design welcomes a multigenerational congregation while honoring the history of the building. It harnesses the building’s unique, triangular shape by creating intimate spaces on the narrow north side and gathering spaces on the south side.

Previously, the synagogue contained unusable space on the third and fourth floors and had no ADA access to the second-floor sanctuary. Coworking, chapel, and event spaces now span all four floors, with an added commercial kitchen, gender-neutral restrooms, conference rooms, and space for community-focused gatherings. A new elevator and ADA-compliant amenities improve accessibility.

The redesigned front entry replaced the original brick façade with windows. Interior wood paneling was removed to display painted brick and the raw materials of the ceiling. The lobby now provides an inviting community hub featuring local art and an array of seating. The second-floor sanctuary features original floor-to-ceiling stained glass, bathing the space in color. The north side houses an office for the Rabbi and a children’s space that includes low tables, toys, books, and window-ledge seating. The third floor boasts hoteling desks and two conference rooms, while the fourth floor hosts community gatherings, offering reconfigurable space and AV equipment.

Jury Comments

The use of color in this project is stunning in making it a memorable place—establishing a community within the urban context. It commands a presence on the street through the adaptation of the storefront element. It contributes to a vital pedestrian experience.

Project Team Members

Rabbi Silverman / IADS
Vadim Avshalumov / IADS
Rachel Rudman / IADS
Samantha Woll / IADS
George Roberts / IADS
Graig Connelly / Proxy
Kaija Wuollet / Laavu
Noah Resnick / Laavu
Joel Smith / Neumann/Smith Architecture
Lou Goldhaber / Sachse Construction
Jim Cummings / Neumann/Smith Architecture
Todd Sachse / Sachse Construction

Project Consultants

Proxy / Owner Representative
Laavu / Owner Interior Designer
Sachse Construction / Construction Manager
Resurget Engineering / Structural Engineer
Strategic Energy Solutions / Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing Engineer
Allegion / Door Hardware

By Simon Kaufman | May 9th, 2024 | 2023 Religious Architecture & Art Awards