Earlier this year AN‘s Eavesdrop column predicted the shortlist for Wilshire Boulevard Temple’s “Gathering Place,” a 55,000-square-foot event space across the street from the institution’s sanctuary. The final list has been revealed and includes big hitters such as OMA, Kengo Kuma & Associates, Morphosis Architects, and Steven Holl Architects.
The only firm we didn’t predict was Holl (we had Renzo Piano taking the fourth spot). According to the temple, the New York Times prematurely crowned OMA as the winner. “These things often leak but don’t always get reported accurately,” said Temple spokesperson Susan Gordon.
The announcement of the winning team is still “weeks away,” said Gordon. Members of the selection committee include Erika Glazer, Eli Broad, Tony Pritzker, Dana Hutt, and Richard Koshalek. Meanwhile the temple—which is following an ambitious master plan— has already begun construction on the renovation of two school buildings, its Karsh Social Service Center, a rooftop athletic facilities, and a new landscaped walking path. Stay tuned for more.
