“When you have all the answers about a building before you start building it, your answers are not true. The building gives you answers as it grows and becomes itself.”

Louis Kahn

Louis Kahn’s quote, in our experience, also authentically applies to the process of the development of an organization and to the process of design. The genesis of JCOGS’ new building is first and foremost about the local Jewish community and the gathering of people sharing a common history and a fundamental belief system.

It is this Jewish community, full of theological diversity, brimming with creativity and collective energy that sought to secure its place in Stowe by committing to the challenges of designing and building a “home place.” It has taken courage, communication, money and thousands of hours from many individuals to design and build the Jewish Community Center of Greater Stowe.

One of JCOGS founding fathers, Marvin Gameroff’s, fundamental request was to design a building whose character and detailing would come from the Greek Revival fabric of Stowe and Northern Vermont. As envisioned by Marvin and the building committee, the new building for the Jewish Community of Greater Stowe would be designed using the local historic Greek revival architectural fabric as core elements for the main sanctuary. With a nod to a more contemporary architecture, the reaching and embracing entry portico acknowledges the building’s greeting location on the corner of two streets. Beyond the architectural beauty of this building, the success of this project rests on the efforts of many JCOGS committee members as they worked closely with us on the design phases, and the fastidious work of the general contractor to achieve their aspirations and goals within a controlled and managed budget.