The
Lubavitch Center of British Columbia (the Center) embraces a philosophy of
study, meditation, and social outreach that combines rigorous academics with
proactive community involvement. They moved into their new home at the corner
of West 41st Ave & Oak Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, in
1999. The Center occupies the first 3 stories and basement level of a 5-story
infill office/commercial building that gives very little clue as to the rich
cultural activity within. Two key areas remained as ‘shell and core’ – the main
level reception and meeting areas, and the area designated for the mikveh on
the first basement level. This project completes these critical programmatic
areas and reestablishes the architectural character of the Center, and
heightens the experience of its community members.
The Lounge and Reception
Hall
The
main level will serve a variety of meeting and reception functions which are at
the core of the Center’s mission. The Lounge will generally be used for small
informal functions and day-to-day meeting, while the main Reception Hall will
be for more formal occasions and religious holidays with a capacity for roughly
180 people. These spaces are defined by two key programmatic blocks. One which
is rounded in form, clad in Douglas-fir panels, and houses public amenities;
the other is rectilinear in form, clad in limestone similar to the new
flooring, and houses the kosher commercial kitchen. The gallery that connects
the two assembly spaces also separates these two programmatic blocks.
The Mikveh
The
mikveh plays a deeply significant role in the cultural and spiritual life of
the Center. It is used for ritual immersion in Judaism by both women and men.
One of the main challenges with its design was the location within the existing
building. Accommodations for the pool had been made on the first basement
level, which also houses below grade parking and storage. The mikveh needed to
be a world unto itself as the surrounding functions did not provide any linkage
to other above ground activities of the Center.
Thus
the planning, material selection and lighting design takes queues from
historical precedents to establish a protected oasis of calmness, oneness and
balance.