Congregation Sherith Israel’s historic sanctuary building, constructed in 1904, was designed by renowned architect Albert Pissis. Located in San Francisco and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the temple seats 1,400 congregants and has extensive interior decorative plaster, finishes, and painting, and an ornate exterior Colusa sandstone façade. When the future of the building was threatened, ELS used innovative techniques to stabilize the dome with almost no reconstruction, and restored the original Colusa sandstone exterior to its original glory. A solar panel array on the gabled roof powers half the building’s electrical needs.

Awards

California Preservation Foundation Craftsmanship/Preservation Technology Design Award