Projects by Name

In 1961, Breuer and his associate Herbert Beckhard designed a large suburban temple complex in Short Hills, New Jersey. Breuer’s firm produced construction drawings, but the congregation declined to build the project when the contractors’ bids came in significantly higher than expected. Breuer and Beckhard placed the four volumes of the complex along a spine formed by a walkway bordered by a stone wall. The 3,000 seat temple featured folded concrete arches that radiated out from a central point. A narrow, three-storey school was located to the west of the temple and navigated a change in grade. A central hallway allowed visitors to access classrooms placed to either side to take full advantage of daylight. To the east could be found a small, hexagonal chapel and a two-storey social hall and offices.