Congregation Agudas Achim

Founded in 1924, Congregation Agudas Achim has grown through several buildings: a 1931 downtown location, a 1963 Bull Creek sanctuary, and its current Lake|Flato‑designed modern synagogue on the Dell Jewish Community Campus, completed in 2001. The wood-clad, limestone-walled sanctuary is illuminated by clerestory windows and features a soaring roof, creating a welcoming space for worship and education. The synagogue remains central to Austin’s Conservative Jewish life.

From private homes to a purpose-built campus, Congregation Agudas Achim traces a journey of growth and adaptation that mirrors Austin’s own evolution. Chartered in 1924, the congregation built its first synagogue at 909 San Jacinto in 1931, an enduring symbol of Jewish resilience. Under the leadership of community elder Jim Novy, the congregation moved to Bull Creek in 1963, with a dedication led by Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson.

A renovation in 1989 preserved and modernized the Bull Creek structure. But the most transformative shift came in 2001, when Agudas Achim joined Beth Shalom and Tiferet Israel on the Dell Jewish Community Campus, an innovative, interdenominational Jewish hub born of philanthropy from Michael and Susan Dell. Designed by David Lake of Lake|Flato, the new sanctuary celebrates daylight and natural materials, including rusticated limestone, wood finishes, and a sculptural roof that references both regional character and sacred tradition.

Internally, the sanctuary balances transparency and intimacy. Clerestory (upper) windows and skylights seem to purify the space with shifting natural light, while warm wood and stone establish calm. The balcony, Torah terrace, and outdoor pavilion support educational and social programming that attracts over 700 families.

The architecture supports the congregation’s inclusive mission of anchoring tradition while embracing innovation. Agudas Achim anchors the community as a cultural fulcrum on campus, fostering interfaith dialogue, lifelong learning, youth engagement, and community service. The preservation and reuse of the Ten Commandments tablets from the original building reinforces a narrative of continuity amid change.

In a city known for its dynamic growth, Congregation Agudas Achim offers a model of placemaking rooted in belonging, tradition, and progressive design. Its design reinforces the notion that architecture serves congregations by cultivating connections, shaping spiritual life, and giving physical form to evolving communal identity. – Gabriella Bermea, AIA