Jewish Community Alliance of Southern Maine

The Alfred Osher Jewish Community Alliance Campus (JCA) offers a vibrant gateway to Jewish life in Southern Maine. The 19,000-square-foot facility has been designed to accommodate a wide variety of community programming for all ages, including the Morris A. and Bertha Levine Portland Jewish Community Center, an Education Wing that is home to Adult Jewish Learning, the Goldman Family Preschool, after school, and evening educational opportunities.

Project Overview

Client

The Jewish Community Alliance of Southern Maine

Type

New Construction

Size

19,000 Square Feet

Project Lead

Mark D. Lee, AIA, LEED AP


Efficiency and good design go hand in hand

Thoughtfully planned both inside and out, the final design of the JCA is an exercise in texture, symbolism, and natural light. The inviting and colorful interior design is soft, welcoming, and comfortable with hardwood accents and paneling.

Building systems are designed to exceed enhanced energy benchmarks, increase occupant comfort, and control and reduce cost life cycle impacts. These improvements include LED lighting with daylight and automated sensors, high-efficiency natural gas heat generation, and low water use plumbing fixtures.


  • The design concept is built around three themes: community, enlightenment, and equality. Enlightenment is expressed in the vertical; Community as interlocking circles; Equality as horizontal. The building massing is an expression of these three precepts, acting both independently and as one.

We’d love to work on a project together.