MERRICK JEWISH CENTRE

A new entry and event space for a vibrant synagogue

The Merrick Jewish Centre began in 1931 as a one-story house in Nassau County, Long Island. Over the ensuing nine decades, four major additions produced a complex facility with a mix of architectural styles and structural systems. Today, the Centre requires unifying elements, simplified circulation, and renewed finishes to address the congregation’s evolving programmatic needs.

Jonathan Schloss / Architect was engaged to develop a comprehensive master plan, organizing recommendations across nine distinct areas of the existing facility. A cost estimator worked with the congregation to help prioritize these recommendations and strategically phase implementation.

Following completion of the synagogue master plan, the building committee selected the main lobby and ballroom event space as the first construction phase.

This renovation centers on extending the ballroom to connect with a new central circulation axis, supporting both independent events and maximum capacity on High Holy Days and other holidays. Key elements include a redesigned entry sequence, new finishes, a permanent security desk, upgraded bathrooms, a raised stage in the ballroom, and operable partitions that create a corridor linking the two primary spaces.

Working with a security consultant, JSA met with congregants to develop an access control strategy, reinforce the perimeter, and design a more secure front entry. A subsequent project was then designed and documented to replace all exterior doors and frames with more robust assemblies prepared for access control readers, magnetic contacts, and fire alarm devices.

Location: Merrick, NY

Size: 7,600 sf

Status: Complete

Credits: Photos © Michael Moran

Project Team: DHI Construction, General Contractor Essential Light, Lighting Designer

Credits: Photos © Michael Moran