CHALLENGES & OPPORTUNITIES
This Capital Campaign, which
began with the creation of a formal master plan for the campus, envisions
a completely renovated and upgraded facility, built to the highest standards
of quality and environmental design, and capable of meeting our programmatic
needs for decades to come.
Guest Housing
The Challenge: Many of
our lodges, which were built primarily for summer use more than sixty
years ago need to be rebuilt. In addition, most lodges have shared
baths and lack handicap accessibility.
Opportunity:
The master plan includes rebuilding 80% of our lodges and increasing
the number of rooms by 50%. The new accommodations will be handicap
accessible and will include private baths.
Program Space
Challenge: We lack sufficient
and appropriate space to meet the needs of new programs and increased
facility use.
Opportunity:
The master plan includes twice the current square footage of program
space. We will build a new synagogue that is capable of seating
250 guests, several new lecture halls and classrooms, an Arts
Center, a Yoga/Exercise Studio, and a separate
“Village” for our ADAMAH Teen Institute just across our lake.
These changes will allow us to accommodate larger groups and multiple
groups at one time.
Faculty and Staff Housing
Challenge: We have insufficient
housing for staff or visiting lecturers and their families.
Opportunity:
The master plan includes five new apartments, a staff lounge, and
a separate staff kitchen.
Dining Hall/Kitchen
Challenge: Our dining hall
and kitchen were designed to serve fewer than 300 meals a day.
Today, when operating at full capacity, we serve more than 550 meals
daily.
Opportunity:
Our new dining hall will serve as many as 900 meals per day.
This will allow us to serve meals to several groups at the same time,
and will also make Isabella Freedman an option for larger groups looking
for a kosher retreat location.
Administrative Space
Challenge: We have doubled
our number of staff members over the past three years while continuing
to utilize the same small space for all operations and programming.
Administrative space is the primary factor limiting programmatic growth.
Opportunity:
We will greatly increase administrative and related space for our
programming staff.
Environmental Impact
Challenge: Buildings have a
significant impact on the environment. Globally, buildings account
for 40% of natural resources used and produce 36% of total carbon emissions
which contributes significantly to detrimental environmental impacts
associated with Global Warming. In addition, the cost of energy
use has soared in recent years and will likely be unpredictable for
decades to come.
Opportunity: Environmental
stewardship is a core value of our organization influencing what we
teach and how we operate. Our newly built facility will represent
the best in environmental design and will incorporate effective environmental
technologies throughout. The new main lodge will be
built according to the US Green Building Council’s LEED guidelines, and as such, will serve as a teaching model to the thousands who
visit us each year.