Ongoing Facilities Updates

Jan. 10, 2022

Planning and Vision Session to reimagine our congregational home

We invite you to participate in our planning and visioning session to reimagine our congregational home on Sunday, January 16, 2022 from 9:30 am-12:30pm at the Kleinert Ave campus.  

Architectural Firm – RHH Architects – will be visiting with congregants interested in joining the conversation to shape the new home of the Baton Rouge Jewish community.

During this meeting RHH will be listening to you to understand the most important needs of the community and your ideas related to the renovation of our building on Kleinert. 

Additionally, they will explain how the design phase will move forward and answer questions and concerns that you may have.

Sitter services, coffee and donuts will be made available so please come and share your thoughts.

January 6, 2022
Much is going on behind-the-scenes to prepare for the transformation of the Kleinert campus. Representatives of RHH Architects have been attending services at both locations to better acclimate themselves to our culture and needs.

Additionally, the facilities action team is working to complete new survey for both lots to enable us to complete the construction as needed. The team has contracted with a consultant architect out of Dallas, Gary Cunningham, who has completed several projects for the Jewish community, notably Temple Emanu-El in Dallas. He is excited to work on our project and sees it as a labor of love.

Most excitingly, visioning is underway! RHH has met with several of the working groups and key stakeholders. Our first congregational visioning session will be January 16 from 9:30-12:30. This will be just the first, so do not worry if you can’t make this one.

November 18, 2021
At its last meeting, the facilities action team interviewed three firms from across Louisiana that have worked locally, nationally and even internationally to lead the renovation of the Kleinert Ave. campus. The facilities action team was looking for a firm that will think big and dream big, with a good personality and that understands what we are trying to accomplish.

The team has selected RHH Architects as the primary architect and design firm. This creative and innovative team designed the Knock Knock Museum, The Advocate’s new administration building, the LSU Field House, and the Baton Rouge Magnet High remodel. RHH Architects will work side-by-side with a consultant who has experience building synagogues/sanctuaries. The team will begin the interviews to find that consultant soon.

We will keep you updated on opportunities to provide your input and ideas. The facilities action team let RHH Architects know that the ideal deadline to complete renovations at Kleinert is the High Holy Days 5784 / 2023.

November 11, 2021
Last week, the UJCBR Board voted on the physical location of our new congregational home. We are excited to announce that the board has voted that the new home of UJCBR will be at the Kleinert Avenue location currently housing Congregation B’nai Israel.

The Joint Synagogue Exploratory Committee (JSEC) task force, the facilities action team and the board considered three options: a new facility, locating the new campus at the Jefferson Hwy. location or locating the new home at Kleinert Ave. The board sent an email Nov. 5 to all members explaining how we decided on the Kleinert location.

As our next steps, the facilities team will interview architectural firms and recommend an architect to the board. Once selected, the architect will study and assess the needs and desires of the congregation. This process will include input from congregants including live and/or virtual meetings. The design process will take some time and, we are confident, will result in a space for worship, study, and gathering of which our community can enjoy with pride for generations.

If you have questions, concerns or suggestions, please contact a board member or reach us at BatonRougeJewishFuture@gmail.com.