DOWNSTAIRS OFFICES

Bette Simple and Jan Sneider-Brown are working to prepare the library.


The business office has views to the wetlands.


There is a small counseling office.


The dumb waiter can be used to move items from any of the three floors.

THE MEDITATION ROOM IS READY!

Chairs will be arranged at the opposite end of the room.

LOTS of CHANGES. The Center is Almost Ready for Lama Lodru's Trainings Next Weekend

Parking lots are in. The plumbing and electricity are finished.

Door closers have been installed for the meditation room doors.

Clay Colley is the acting on-site contractor. He has volunteered long work days all year to make our center happen.

Stone work continues on the outside thanks to Jim and Teresa

The walls have had earth plaster installed and have been sponged to a smooth texture by Derek

Phyllis Norris and Marty Peterson Have Moved Their Accounting Offices into the Downstairs.

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The concrete floors on each level are given two coats of stain, a coat of clear sealer and two coats of wax.

Full Moon Day

May 27th was Full Moon Day, on which the Buddha's birth and death anniversaries are acknowledged world-wide. In harmony with Tibetan Buddhist centers throughout the world, the new Center will have replicas of full moons on the exterior of the building. Application of the glass on-copper full moons began on May 27th.

There was a Mahakala Meditation to say Good Bye to the Old Meditation Center on Granite Street.

The altar below was for the Mahakala Meditation. KSC has been located at the old farm house on Granite Street for eight years. Moving begins this week from Granite Street to the new space.




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These Are the Beech Wood Slats Before And After They Were Installed in the the Main Floor Ceiling. They allow air cirulation above.

Saving the Planet

In order to heat the building there are separate hydraulic heating systems within each floor. As demand for heat becomes known the instant hot water system can immediately send the warm water to the correct floor. In the floors there is plastic tubing every eight inches for the warm water.

The cooling is done by natural convection air. This is facilitated by large ducts that are 8 ft. by 2 ft. These pull air from the cool ground level of the first floor. It is pulled naturally through the ducts towards the attic. It mixes with the air already in the building and recirculates. On the main floor the ceiling is made from imported German beech wood, which meets the standards for European green wood. The beech slats are a half inch apart. The air can circulate through the slats, helping to cool the air.

There is also a fan in the attic to blow out hot air that rises.

The Plants in the Wildlife Pond Beside the Center are Starting to Turn Green

Catching the Rain

The copper rain chains are connected to the gutters. From there the rain flows into metal scuppers. Finally rain drains into the round rain "pot."




The copper rain chains are connected to the gutters. From there the rain flows into metal scuppers. Finally rain drains into the round rain "pot."

The main floor is nearly ready for the June workshop with Lama Lodru.

Kitchen and bathrooms in readiness

The concrete floors on each level are given two coats of stain, a coat of clear sealer and two coats of wax.

Presently they are covered for protection.

Nance Louise' Poem About the New Center

MORE THAN WOOD



More than metal.

More than wood.

More than walls.

More than windows and doors.

More than plaster and paint.

More than what it appears to be, yet spacious emptiness,
this place of refuge, this sanctuary coming to fruition to benefit all beings.

The blackbirds have returned to the nearby wetlands singing across the cattails,
their flight of song in the spring air whistling, opening the doors of this building,
this place and its variety of spaces, this Center.

May I remember all of this; this moment’s morning sky, this clear light,
this golden beech wood crossing over metal through plaster and concrete and color,
creating walls and windows and new views both exterior and interior
that open my heart and mind to the dharma, season upon season.

There's Plenty of Parking for the Center on Hersey Street, in front and behind the Center and in nearby lots for non business hours.

Views From the Third Floor