Baltimore, MD
Congregation Darchei Tzedek
Scope/Solutions
The new Darchei Tzadek’s synagogue features a large sanctuary with congregational seating for 380 people and includes vaulted ceilings and a tiered, second-floor balcony. The complex also includes a large social hall that can accommodate more than 400 occupants, kitchens, and four multi-purpose classrooms. Working for RBA Architecture, SGH designed the structure for the new synagogue.
The 20,000 sq ft synagogue is steel-framed with composite concrete floors and a roof supported by custom steel trusses and standard open-web steel joists. SGH designed a structure to accomplish large, open gathering spaces and unique architectural features. For this project, SGH designed the following:
- Transfer girders to support offset columns that frame the desired open spaces
- Custom steel girders to match the rise between each level of the tiered balcony
- Hangers to support the front edge of the overhanging balcony
- Four steel-framed girder trusses with vaulted bottom chords spanning nearly 60 feet over the sanctuary
- An intermediate roof structure consisting of wide-flange steel beams between the four girder trusses and tube steel bracing for lateral stability
- Lateral bracing for the sanctuary’s exterior walls to accommodate full-height two-story windows
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Project Summary
2011
Completion Date
Solutions
New Construction
Services
Structures
Markets
Culture & Entertainment
Client(s)
Congregation Darchei Tzedek
Specialized Capabilities
Building Design
Key team members
Gary R. Strand
Structural Engineering Division Head, Washington, DC
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