Breaking Ground Soon!

There has been great progress in the last few weeks! The City Council of St. Louis Park has approved our project, we are in the final stages of securing bank construction financing, construction diagrams are all but complete and bidding for the job is beginning. Soon we will officially announce our start date for construction.

If you have not had a chance to view plans that were on display in the Ring Lobby, some of them are featured here with brief explanations of the design.

New Entrance
One of the primary features of the renovation is a new 26th street entrance. This new entrance will be brightly lit and will embody Beth El’s Vision Statement to be warm and welcoming. From this safe and secured entry, one immediately enters the hub of the building that leads to the Aleph School, the administration areas as well as the worship, social spaces and new Library.

Aleph School
The new Aleph School will have seven classrooms as well as new teachers’ and director’s offices – all on one floor! These spaces will be bathed in natural lighting and have upgraded fixtures and carpeting. We also will build to accommodate infant care should we decide to offer this in the future. A new entry to the school will include a parents’ lounge for coffee and programs and will be a wonderful, informal gathering space. This space will also be available for gathering on Shabbat and holidays.

Library
An exciting addition to the east of the building will house our new library and education center. This addition will also feature a new covered main front entry way. The dramatic and beautiful structure will symbolically demonstrate the centrality of ongoing learning in our congregation. The space will include areas for reading to children, use of technology, and ability to have classes and discussions. The addition will also include a reconfiguration of our coat room and will include a quiet room adjacent to the main sanctuary, for children or for classes observing how services are conducted. More green spaces in front of our building will also add beauty to our building.

Accessibility/Way Finding
Finally, Beth El will have an elevator! Wherever needed, ramps will be added for those who can not use stairs. Hallways will be widened, confusing corners eliminated, and sightlines opened up. All of these improvements will allow our members and guests to easily navigate their way through our building and find our facility warm and welcoming.

Gift Shop A new gift shop will be located as one comes into the new 26th street entrance. This is the perfect location to take advantage of foot traffic. New display cases will allow passersby to be enticed by products.

Youth Lounge
The new youth lounge will be on the west side of the building. A designated youth entrance will allow easy access for our kids and enable programs to take place during off hours while keeping the building secure.

Administration
For the first time, all our staff will be located together. The new offices will provide places for all of our staff in one central location, where we will operate more efficiently. Also, waiting areas for visitors will be bright and welcoming.

Meeting Rooms
All of the old Aleph School rooms currently upstairs on the west side of the building (once known as the activities building in the 1960’s) will be used for other programs and activities. Such uses will include: classes, meetings, even alternative smaller minyanim or services on a Shabbat morning.

Parking and Outside Spaces
The main parking area will remain largely untouched by renovations. However, we will have some additional green areas with plantings that will enhance our outdoors spaces.

Building Modernization
The new plan will bring the building up to code by abating asbestos, sprinkling the building, making heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) more energy efficient, and upgrading plumbing, bathrooms, lighting and more.