Abramson Architects fulfilled unmet needs with the realization of Valley Beth Shalom Community Center located in Encino, California.

Originally established in 1950, Valley Beth Shalom’s mission is to enrich the lives of their community while fostering personal growth. Mostly untouched since the 1980s, their campus needed a significant overhaul to accommodate the growing number of younger families joining their conservative Jewish community. The new Howard and Irene Community Center is a contemporary extension of their evolving campus.

A nexus within Valley Beth Shalom’s dense urban campus, the Levine Center is a 16-hour-a-day space responding to their previously unmet religious, academic, and athletic needs. The facility provides a new indoor gymnasium and mezzanine level for yoga and other wellness activities. The voluminous space also transforms easily into an auditorium for performances or a sanctuary during high holidays.

Architect: Abramson Architects
Photography: Tom Bonner