Levine Community Center
Overview
A room, made of light
The Levine Community Center is a ground-up addition to the Valley Beth Shalom campus in Encino that serves as a multi-purpose building. The main space was designed with a focus on flexibility to suit the various events and needs of the synagogue. The project includes a full occupied basement with a library, conference rooms, break-out spaces, as well as an occupiable indoor/outdoor mezzanine and significant onsite and offsite work. The project also included wholesale campus upgrade of electrical service and renovation of existing adjacent buildings.
The building includes a complex space frame system spanning the entire building volume. The triangulated members allow for a continuous clerestory around the perimeter of the building while maintaining the structural diaphragm. Triangular pop-up windows introduce additional lighting from the north. To maintain the floating ceiling's delicate appearance, the heating and air conditioning ductwork is integrated beneath the mezzanine level. Vents set into a Baltic birch-faced ledge provide the velocity needed to force air deep into space.
Sliding glass storefront at the east and west facades allow for indoor/outdoor connections and create ample cross-ventilation. From the outside, the structure appears perched atop the concrete block wall. New landscaping and lighting activate the public realm along the long site wall.
Gallery
Team
1 Experience with prior firm.
Voices
"I have worked with Alex directly for over five years on many successful projects. He is a great collaborator and always pushes for the best solution through thorough research and analysis. His knowledge and professional demeanor bring confidence to all parties involved in a project. I hope to consistently work with Alex for the rest of my career as an architect."
"Working in the construction and development industry for over 23 years I have worked with a lot of various team members. With that in mind, I have had the pleasure and the luck to work with Alex for the last 5 years on three large and complex projects. He is a natural leader who is competent, organized and a knowledgeable Owners representative. He is a superb team member who keeps the project and the team's best interests at heart. With professionalism, a direct, transparent, and collaborative approach, Alex ensures project success. I wish he were on all our projects."