Temple Judea Picks CetraRuddy for Campus Renovation
The Coral Gables Reform congregation has chosen interior architect and designer CetraRuddy to lead restoration of its campus.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Judaism
Temple Judea, a Reform congregation in Coral Gables, Florida, has selected CetraRuddy as interior architect and designer for a campus renovation and restoration. The firm was chosen after a nationwide review, alongside ELM ARCH as architect and Red Door Construction as general contractor.
Why it matters
The campus was originally designed by Morris Lapidus in 1966, and later additions and renovations altered its original design and cohesion. The project aims to update the campus to improve accessibility and accommodate the congregation's current needs.
The original 1966 campus design by Morris Lapidus is the baseline for the restoration, which will reorganize interior circulation and connect the social hall and Grossman Room to the Silverman Room. Project costs and completion dates have not been disclosed.
The players
Temple Judea
Temple Judea is a Reform Jewish congregation in Coral Gables, Florida, whose campus is undergoing the renovation.
CetraRuddy
CetraRuddy is a New York-based architecture and interior design firm selected as interior architect and designer for the project.
Morris Lapidus
Morris Lapidus was a prominent Miami Beach architect known for Miami Modern design, who originally designed the Temple Judea campus in 1966.
The details
CetraRuddy began with an extensive survey of the congregation and its leadership. The sanctuary will receive updates intended to improve acoustics and create a warmer interior, while the lobby's stained-glass portals remain defining features of the synagogue.
Timeline
1966: Morris Lapidus completes the original campus design.
Mid-20th century: Miami Modern (MiMo) architectural style emerges in South Florida.
November 9, 2026: Temple Judea publicly reports its design team selection.
Legacy Architecture
The campus is a 1966 Morris Lapidus design from the Miami Modern (MiMo) style that emerged in mid-20th century South Florida. The restoration seeks to recover that original cohesion, which later additions had eroded.
Congregants and visitors to Temple Judea can expect a renovated campus with reorganized interior spaces and updated social hall equipment once the work is completed. Coral Gables residents will see the restoration of a locally significant mid-century building.
The takeaway
Restoring mid-century religious buildings can balance preserving original design with meeting a congregation's modern accessibility and programming needs. Renovations of this kind often hinge on careful survey work with the community that uses the space.
Further reading
For more on congregations and religious life, explore Judaism coverage in Coral Gables.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Construction Specifier.
