Louis I. Kahn Bath House and Day Camp Pavilions

Ewing Township’s Bath House and Day Camp Pavilions, designed in 1955 and 1957 for the Trenton Jewish Community Center by noted Philadelphia architect Louis I. Kahn, are of international importance and renown. They mark a turning point in Kahn’s career, reflecting an important stylistic advancement in the way modernist principles were infused with tradition, and showcasing the first realization of his concept of “servant” and “served” spaces. These ideas were explored further in his projects for the Richards Medical Center at the University of Pennsylvania, the Salk Institute, and the Kimbell Art Museum.

Principals and staff of Mills + Schnoering Architects initially prepared a Preservation Plan for the buildings. Research efforts were complemented by a subsequent design approach that thoughtfully considered the restoration of historic fabric as well as the replacement of features that had been lost over time. The team ultimately sought to recapture Kahn’s original design intentions; incorporate modern requirements for safety, accessibility, and weatherability; and provide a compatible new design that complemented but did not compete with the original artifact. The landscape was also studied and restored in keeping with Kahn’s original plans for the property.