Project of the Month: Mc Gowan Builders completes construction of new 52,000 s/f Lincoln Square Synagogue; Designed by CetraRuddy

Mc Gowan Builders Inc. has completed the new Lincoln Sq. Synagogue, the Upper West Side religious institution, located at 180 Amsterdam and West 68th St. Designed by architecture and interior design firm, CetraRuddy, the three-story synagogue has officially opened its doors and has already hosted its first major event in January. By 2006, the original Lincoln Sq. Synagogue at 200 Amsterdam and West 69th St. could no longer accommodate its growing congregation. This resulted in a land swap between the Synagogue and American Continental Properties, a development company that owned the land at 180 Amsterdam. Mc Gowan Bldrs. was subsequently hired to construct the facility and was involved through the project's completion. CetraRuddy designed a building that enhanced the unity of the congregation, while providing expanded space for all of the center's daily activities ranging from prayer to classes, weddings and religious celebrations. To accommodate this, the new 52,000 s/f building features three above-grade and two below-grade rooms, as well as outdoor activity areas for educational programs and holiday use. The facility also includes a 450-person sanctuary, 6,500 s/f ballroom, 160-person Beit Midrash (House of Study). CetraRuddy designed the new synagogue to reflect the Jewish tradition and convey the heart and spirituality of its congregation. Mc Gowan Bldrs. worked closely with CetraRuddy to implement the crafted details that this complex project required, including the installation of the center's 5,000 s/f façade, which features five ribbons of glass that symbolize the five books of the Torah. Additionally, the main sanctuary required mounting of 613 lights, corresponding to the number of commandments in the Torah, as well as a raked seating arrangement that promotes a feeling of equality and unity among congregants. Lincoln Sq. Synagogue is one of two synagogues that Mc Gowan Bldrs. has recently erected in New York City. The company previously built the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale, a three-story Orthodox Jewish center in the Bronx that has provided religious services for over 30 years. Mc Gowan Bldrs. also constructed the award-winning Cenacle Retreat Center and Convent in Ronkonkoma which was built using sustainable construction techniques and recycled materials.