Expansion to help grow religious programs

By Jeff O'Brien

Thursday, Aug. 28, 2008 | midnight

Construction of Temple Beth Sholom's $3 million expansion known as Friedman Pavilion is under way, with the goal of accommodating growth in the synagogue's congregation and the need for additional services.

Temple Beth Sholom, which opened in 2000, is at 10700 Havenwood Lane, near Town Center Drive. The expansion is named after the Friedman family, which belongs to the synagogue, said Kenneth Scholl, project manager at Temple Beth Sholom.

"The Friedman family made a significant first donation toward the Pavilion along with many other congregants," Scholl said. "Their vision is to provide the temple's membership with an unparalleled facility to educate them to meet tomorrow's challenges."

The 15,000-square-foot Friedman Pavilion will include five general classrooms, a multipurpose room and classrooms for music, arts and science. It will also include a covered playground and storage space.

The new building will also feature several "green" components, Scholl said, such as solar tracking skylights that will be strategically placed throughout the pavilion. Using mirrors, these skylights reflect light that would otherwise be lost when the sun is low on the horizon or during the winter months.

Variable speed fans and programmable electric thermostats will control the inside temperature and schedule themselves to conserve energy, and solar glazing on the windows will reduce heat transfer to the building's interior.

Construction has been going on from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday.

"We anticipate there will be a minimal amount of invasion into the existing facility during the balance of the construction," he said.

Temple Beth Sholom acquired its seven-acre site in 1998. At that time, Scholl said, there was no residential development around the property.

For 35 years prior, the synagogue was at 1600 E. Oakey Blvd., east of Interstate 15 near the corner of Sahara Avenue and Maryland Parkway.

"A little over 100 members relocated to Summerlin," he said. "Today, the membership is in excess of 600 families."

The Friedman Pavilion should be completed in December.

Jeff O'Brien is a reporter for the Home News. He can be reached at 990-8957 or [email protected].