Temple Beth Torah

Overview

Temple Beth Torah is one of the premiere conservative synagogues in South Florida, with over 80 years of history serving the Jewish community. In 2020, the temple’s leadership embarked on an ambitious renovation of its worship space to better serve the needs of its growing congregation. Architectural design for the space was by celebrated architectural firm Schapiro Associates, led by renowned and award-winning architect Jaime Shapiro with technical interior design, A/V integration, and acoustic consulting by WSDG. 

Program

The WSDG Design Team was tasked with creating a comprehensive acoustics, A/V, and lighting design package that would encompass a wide range of services and events. This package included acoustic consulting for the internal room acoustics of the space and isolation, lighting specifications for both the main hall and the inner lectern, and a robust A/V integration package that included updated sound reinforcement and professional live web and broadcasting capabilities. 

Design

The WSDG Design Team modeled the space of the synagogue using the latest techniques and equipment and made recommendations that would improve the reverberation times and speech intelligibility of the room without compromising its aesthetic appearance. The team specified the ideal acoustic materials for Temple Beth Torah’s signature dome and ceiling as well as movable partitions that could be utilized in multiple room configurations. 

To meet the temple’s extensive lightning needs, the WSDG Design Team created a recommendation package that included solutions for both main lighting schemes and indirect lighting for the lectern, allowing for a variety of moods and lighting setups, all controlled by automation. The stained-glass windows in the dome also are lit by exterior lights.

The temple is now equipped with a state-of-the-art A/V package that includes a completely redesigned loudspeaker system and sound reinforcement equipment for excellent audibility and support for musical performances, and both visual and audio broadcasting equipment for live streaming of services.