Photo Credit: Sam Fentress

Kol Rinah Synagogue

Religious Architecture: Renovation
Patterhn Ives, LLC

St. Louis, MO

Kol Rinah unites two established Jewish congregations on a single campus in St. Louis, transforming a former Baptist church to create a distinct identity for this newly formed synagogue. Located on the edge of a growing business district, the design honors the rich history of both congregations while projecting a sense of optimism, carefully integrating a new sanctuary and entry sequence with the existing mid-century structures. The architecture and landscape create a dynamic environment for a diverse and inclusive community, serving three primary functions: gathering, learning, and prayer.

The new sanctuary is intentionally quiet, grounded, and responsive to its urban context. Though austere and protective in form, the sanctuary remains warm and inviting. The new entry and lobby spaces are filled with natural light throughout the day and softly illuminated at night. This luminous threshold supports the social and spiritual engagement central to Jewish faith, reinforcing the synagogue’s role as both a sacred and communal space. Inside, the heaviness of the stone sanctuary is an unexpectedly light-filled, double-height space for worship and prayer. Material, light, and sound are carefully composed to create a tranquil space that inspires contemplation and spirituality.

Jury Comments

This is a project about the possibilities and promise of finding common ground, both through the merger of two Jewish congregations as well as the integration of a preexisting church structure with a new addition. The easiest option for the renovation might have been to demolish the former Hanley Road Baptist Church, but instead the synagogue celebrated the church’s legacy by incorporating it into a new social hall. The site planning and exterior of the addition also addresses the congregation’s safety concerns without compromising the quality of light in the sanctuary interior.

Project Partners

TEN x TEN Studio
McClure Engineering
Alper Audi Associates
Civil Design, Inc.
Kirkegaard Associates
Dennis G. Glore, Inc.
Lawlor Corporation
ISC Contracting
BSI Constructors, Inc.