metro
Sukkah Sensations
Ann Arbor design competition offers
innovative huts for the holiday.
Esther Allweiss Ingber
Michigan business school graduate
returned to Ann Arbor after living a year
in Seattle.
Ann Arbor
The committee applied for and was
awarded an Impact Fund Grant through
an you build a better sukkah?
the Jewish Federation of Ann Arbor.
Taking a whack at it were
"This is a fund that awards dollars
22 national design teams or
to projects based on their community
individuals whose detailed plans were
impact," Bloom said. "Once we had the
submitted to the inaugural Sukkah Arbor
grant, we created a website and got run-
"design-build competition to re-envision
ning."
the sukkah:' Six finalists received a stipend
In addition to Bloom of Bloom
to build their ideas, and, on Sept. 23, visi-
General Contracting in Southfield, the
tors to Liberty Square Plaza in Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor-based committee members
can choose the sukkah
were Jennifer Siegel,
they feel deserves a
design professor,
$2,000 cash prize.
UM-Dearborn;
The winner will be
Andrew Hauptman,
announced during
OX Studio Inc.; Gary
an open house at the
Rochman, Rochman
Jewish Community
Design-Build; Avram
Center of Greater Ann
Kiuger, Ann Arbor
Arbor. Designs for all 22
Federation; Mimi
entries will be displayed
Weisberg, Ann Arbor
from Sept. 30-Oct. 9
Federation; Melissa
at the JCC, 2935 Birch
Antokal, McKinley
Hollow Drive.
Properties; and
Entrants applied 21st-
Seth Penchansky,
century techniques and
Penchansky Whisler
materials in accordance
Architects.
with Halachah (Jewish
Siegel also was
law) to create unique
referee on the inde-
This woven suk kah concept is an
versions of the sukkah.
pendent jury of rab-
example of tho se in the Sukkah
The traditional tem-
bis and architects
Arbor design c ompetition.
porary structure is the
that selected the six
symbol of the Sukkot
finalists, designers
festival. Observant Jews erect and spend
hailing from San Francisco, Los Angeles,
time in their sukkah over the seven-day
Chicago, Houston (two entries) and
holiday as a way of remembering the
Warren, Mich.
fragile huts or booths used by ancient
Jurors were Rabbi Seth Winberg,
Israelites wandering in the desert.
U-M Hillel; Rabbi Robert Dobrusin,
Sukkot this year begins at sundown on
Beth Israel Congregation; JN columnist
Sept. 30.
Rabbi Jason Miller, Access Computer
Inspired by a similar competition
Technology; Father Gilbert Sunghera,
that took place in New York City called
School of Architecture, University of
Sukkah City, a group of Ann Arbor-
Detroit Mercy; Sean Vance, Taubman
based architects and builders formed a
College of Architecture and Urban
volunteer committee to bring a sukkah
Planning, U-M; Michael Poris, McIntosh
building competition to Ann Arbor.
Poris Associates, Birmingham; and Gary
"After all, Ann Arbor is known for
Rochman, Rochman Design-Build, Ann
its art community," said Josh Bloom, a
Arbor.
Sukkah Arbor committee member.
"I've seen these designs, and people will
"'They're going to be spectacular,"
be very impressed with the ingenuity that
Bloom said, referring to the finalists'
went into them:' Bloom said. "They're
designs. Bloom, a 2009 University of
going to be spectacular." ❑
Contributing Writer
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16
September 13 • 2012
Check out the innovative sukkahs and pick a favorite among six finalists
in the Sukkah Arbor design competition at a free event scheduled noon-6
p.m. Sunday, Sept. 23, at Liberty Square Plaza, corner of Liberty Street
and South Division, Ann Arbor. Volunteers are needed to help with sukkah
building in the morning. Visit www.sukkaharbor.com to sign up.