We’re honored and excited to share that Kol Rinah Synagogue has received a 2026 Faith & Form International Award for Religious Architecture.
This recognition is especially meaningful because it reflects the heart of the project: a deeply collaborative partnership with the Kol Rinah congregation to thoughtfully create a permanent home for a nascent community. Together, we focused on shaping spaces that are more accessible, flexible, and welcoming, while preserving the character of the existing buildings. Through a carefully integrated addition and sensitively renovated interiors, the spirit of the congregation found renewed expression in a place already rich with history, meaning, and memory.
The award jury noted: “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 pre-existing 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.”
We are grateful to Kol Rinah for their trust and leadership, and humbled to see this work recognized alongside inspiring projects from around the world.
Congratulations to our partners and friends at Kol Rinah!
Client: Kol Rinah
Architecture: Patterhn Ives
MEPFT Engineer: McClure Engineering
Structural Engineer: Alper Audi Associates
Civil Engineer: Civil Design, Inc.
Landscape Architecture: TEN x TEN Studio
Acoustics: Kirkegaard
Photography: Sam Fentress
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https://sacredplaces.org/news/2026-religious-architecture-art-award-winners/