The building design

Our New Home embodies our Reconstructionist principles: it is an architecturally modern building, yet clearly a synagogue; a structure with the latest in energy conservation, audio visual,  and security technology on the inside, and the timeless look of Jerusalem stone from Israel on the outside. Click here for picture.

We have created a flexible building filled with multiple use spaces.  A building that is practical as well as inspiring and beautiful. Highlights of our New Home include:

• The ability to mount 3 High Holiday services with larger capacity than we have today.
• The ability to support the many simultaneous events that can occur on a Shabbat when we may have a learner service, an alternate minyan, babysitting, and a teen program all going on simultaneously
• A multi-storey lobby
• A unique and beautiful sanctuary
• Lots of natural light
• At least 8 different spaces that can be used for classrooms
• Modern and flexible kitchen facilities that support everything from a self catered vegetarian meal to an elegant evening function in our new social hall. One of our new kitchens is a COR kosher meat kitchen and the other kitchen is a dairy kitchen.
• State of the art heating, cooling, audio/visual and security systems.
• The use of environmentally respectful materials, plumbing and lighting systems.
• Storage throughout the building to support muti-use of spaces.

The Transformation of 864 Sheppard Avenue

We have transformed 40 year old two level former synagogue of 12,500 square feet into a modern 21,000 square foot building. This involved the addition of a new top storey and the addition of a new front lobby. The building and services were completely gutted and replaced. Click here to see drawings of the building transformation.

The Interior

The interior of our new home is now both functional and attractive.           

The lower level contains:

• a multi-purpose room that can be made into 3 separate classrooms using the built-in acoustic dividers. It will also be used as our third High Holiday space.
• our Darchei Noam congregational kitchen
• a “Teen Lounge” that can also function as an extra classroom;
• our Board Room/library which which can also be used for a classroom).  
• An additional small meeting room or program space
  

The floors, walls and ceilings are new, the wood shelves in our library holds thousands of volumes and each classroom contains dedicated storage to enable the room to be used for multiple purposes.

Our lobby welcomes congregants and visitors to our beautiful New Home.  The lobby floor is porcelain tile and the north wall is clad in Jerusalem stone.  Our unique donor wall, recognizing the gifts of every congregant, is a featured piece of art in the lobby.  Access to all floors by ramp, elevator and stairs is provided.

The middle level contains our social hall, which is elegant enough for evening affairs and flexible enough to support a wide range of less formal events.  It enables our congregants to host sit-down Simchas for over 200 people including dancing.  The floor of the social hall is finished in Jatoba wood – a sustainable and beautiful natural material.  Our social hall includes a stage at one end and an Aron at the other.  Our (COR) kosher kitchen is adjacent to the social hall.

Our new sanctuary is located on the upper level.  A great deal of design attention has gone into the sanctuary.  Some aspects of note include:

• Natural light from the north wall of windows as well as skylights above the Bima
• Jerusalem stone on the east wall
• New ritual art including a new Aron and a new Ner Tamid.  
• A unique fabric ceiling
• Jatoba wood book shelves and art display area
• New comfortable chairs!
  

Other highlights of the upper level include

• A babysitting room with toddler washroom facilities
• A large program space with a built in Aron so it can be used for services.  This space will also function as a meeting room for our office staff.
• Modern office space and equipment for our staff  including a large private office for our Rabbi.

Building Infrastructure

Although we all care what the building looks like, it is at least as important that it works well and is cost effective to run.  We have integrated our respect for the environment through the investment in energy and water efficient systems as well as environmentally sustainable materials. It also reflects our commitment to access for disabled.

Read Our Environmental Commitment for more details about the environmental and energy-efficient elements of the building and its operations.
ABOUT DARCHEI NOAM