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Sherith Israel's retrofit proceeds rapidly
  
Much progress has been made since April 19, Sherith Israel’s retrofit project start date. The construction scaffold on the west and south walls (Webster and California Streets) is complete. The center coring at the heart of the seismic strengthening work has begun, as has work on the sandstone exterior and on the windows along the south wall. Plant Construction has also begun to build platforms in the attic spaces so workers can access the area to create floor-to-wall-ties, integral to strengthening our magnificent 105-year-old sanctuary.

The beautiful windows are being restored
The south wall window restoration has started. The windows on that side of the building particularly need repair and waterproofing. The synagogue contracted Femenella & Associates. This award-winning firm guided the renovation of stained-glass windows in Saint Patrick’s Cathedral and Temple Emanu-El in New York City, along with the Princeton University Chapel, and the U.S. Capitol Building and Library of Congress. The firm also worked on nearby St. Dominic’s Catholic Church in San Francisco. A true artisan, who studied physics before falling in love with stained glass, Art Femenella explains that the first step is to make a window map. Art also brought in subcontractors Kevin Hershey from Milton, Iowa - they will work on the glass -  and D.H.D. Metals, a Georgia company that makes the specialized lead alloy needed to strengthen and preserve the windows. “We want to make sure we keep the grace of the original lines,” comments Art. “There was a real elegance to the way they manipulated the lead.” When the work is finished in early September, the windows will be waterproofed. The weathered wood surrounding the windows will be replaced and treated with epoxy so the windows will last another hundred years.

Sandstone work will stabilize the exterior
The one-story scaffold that ringed Sherith Israel on California and Webster streets was erected to protect passersby from the chance that pieces of sandstone might peel off the building. Craig Etlin, CSI vice-president and chair of buildings and grounds explains, “The issue is spalling or having layers of sandstone fall off.” Sandstone is sedimentary (layered) rock, and spalling is the separation of the sandstone layers. To protect against that happening, workmen are removing the paint. It turns out that painting the building, which took place in the 50s or 60s, was detrimental to the sandstone over time, trapping water that penetrated the coating as it began to fail, thus causing the spalling. In addition, every stone is being checked. When the work is finished, the exterior of Sherith Israel will look more like that of the Health Sciences Library situated on Webster and Sacramento streets, also designed by Albert Pissis, the architect who designed Congregation Sherith Israel.

The center-coring work will strengthen the very core of this historic landmark
It involves drilling down from the top of the walls through the brick in order to add rebar and a resin to bolster the walls from inside. Before drilling, the contractors removed a portion of the sandstone cornice on the top of the walls, deploying a giant crane to move the stones. Since the stone that was removed matches the exterior walls, it will be stored at the cemetery in case it is needed later for repairs. The drilling, powered by a generator, must be perfectly plumb (vertical). The cylindrical pieces of brick are vacuumed out. “The brick is solid. It’s in good condition,” notes Craig. “It offers further confirmation that this building was really well built.”

 Construction does not slow down Sherith Israel staff
“Sure it can get noisy or dusty,” comments Nancy Drapin, CSI executive director, “but there are always adjustments around construction.”  Working in partnership with Plant Construction, ELS Architecture and Urban Design, Wiss Janney Elstner Associates, Inc., and Femenella & Associates for the windows, has been great, shares Nancy. “The subcontractors are in awe of the beauty of our building and its spiritual presence,” she emphasizes. “The idea of a seismically strengthened building that will serve our community for centuries to come is worth all the inconvenience.”

Preparing for the THE HIGH HOLY DAYS

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