Sentient Times Feb/Mar 2007

A Unique Model of Green Architecture

By Jody Woodruff

“This center will be special in this country. It will be a treasure for the United States—not just Oregon, but the whole country, benefiting many beings.” - Venerable Lama Lodru Rinpoche

building

Kagyu Sukha Chöling, located in Ashland, Oregon is a center for the practice and study of Tibetan Buddhism. It is also dedicated to supporting people of all faiths through any stage of their spiritual journey. The emphasis of the center is to provide a place where anyone may practice contemplative meditation in a peaceful environment that encourages open heartedness and kindness.

Lama Yeshe and Lama Pema moved to Ashland in 2000 to open this center at the urging of their teacher, the Venerable Lama Lodru Rinpoche. At first the sangha (community) met in private homes, but soon leased a 104 year old farm house on Granite Street, believing this would be a more than adequate space. Much to their surprise, within a few months it became apparent that the house was too small for their growing group. This situation presented the Lamas with the first of many challenges leading to the present plan to build a unique meditation center near downtown Ashland.

The search for a new location led the Lamas and their Board of Directors through an extended educational process. With the helpful assistance of the City of Ashland Planning Department, they explored rentals, commercial and residential spaces. They also learned about zoning laws, conditional use requirements and lots more. Along this circuitous journey, the persistent entourage grew to include designers, architects and engineers, ultimately settling on the purchase of a property on the edge of the new railroad district community. What had begun as a desire to lease a small rental had escalated the group into becoming property owners with approval for building a genuine Tibetan Buddhist Center.

In this country, many houses have been purchased and converted into fine practice centers, but most Buddhist construction has been for rural retreat facilities. We see churches, synagogues and temples of all other religious traditions but it is rare to see a Buddhist center. Consequently, many view the presence of a meditation center in this community as an unusual and positive contribution.

With a philosophy of paying as they go in order to avoid burdening their sangha members with large debts, their first challenge was to raise $400,000 to pay for the land, city fees and fees of the professional design team. The meditation community and larger Ashland community raised this amount within two years, including a $100,000 donation from the Marpa Foundation, an organization founded for the purpose of supporting the flourishing of Buddhism. Now, with the completion of phase one, they are entering the second phase which also has the goal of raising $400,000—with $250,000 of that amount needed to break ground.

In the meantime, a serendipitous connection occurred when sangha members read an article about a local couple, Scott Beeman and Susanne Watkins, whose home makes efficient use of solar power and rainwater catchment systems. Scott and Susanne welcome people into their home to share their extensive knowledge about sustainability; consequently the Lamas and the center members toured their home. This embarked the sangha and board members on a new adventure—learning about sustainability and how it could apply to their proposed building. It seemed a perfect match because, as Lama Yeshe points out, “Living in harmony with what is realistic for the planet is a very fundamental perspective in Buddhism.”

Architects Carlos Delgado and Joyce Ward, both of whom have prior experience with various aspects of sustainability, were very glad to embrace the new direction. Because the building was not located in the ideal solar orientation, the original design had not begun as a sustainable building. They then went back and analyzed the building component by component to determine how to make it more sustainable. They also enlisted the input of mechanical engineer consultants and John Fields, a contractor, to jointly come up with new operating strategies to meet the goals of being as environmentally responsible as conditions permit.

The shared philosophy that emerged resulted in several principles to guide the group through the building project:

• A spirit of cooperation among local architects, designers, contractors, suppliers and laborers working together to create a building that will enhance the Clear Creek-Railroad District as well as the larger Ashland community.

• A building using simple systems, not technological “fixes.”

• Low energy consumption.

• Non-toxic building materials.

• Passive heating and cooling methods, relying on the occupants’ participation and modulation of the systems.

• Regionally adapted plants allowing a low water use landscape and contemplative garden adjacent to wetlands.

Carlos Delgado commented that it is exciting to work with Lama Pema and Lama Yeshe because they never lose their focus on what impact the finished building will have on the environment and the community. He observed that all clients who build are naturally concerned about cost, but the Lamas maintain a clear image and equal balance between both elements, bringing a spiritual component to the project at all turns. Every decision is made on the basis of what is the right thing for the environment, and every component is carefully weighed and considered. For example, the Lamas met personally with the local forester who will be providing wood, earmarking specific trees for their project. And when city zoning requirements increased the original size and cost of the building, they kept their optimism, trusting that it would be for the best.

The architects explained that it is difficult to assess the immediate cost of using sustainable methods versus less responsible, conventional elements because there is a long and short term way to assess each situation. Immediate expenses could be more in some instances, but if you look at costs to maintaining the building and other factors such as deforestation, sustainable methods are beneficial in the broader picture. In the past we haven’t been used to considering the big context, but as awareness grows, the market is changing. After much deliberation, the following sustainable elements have been chosen to be incorporated into the meditation center building:

• Insulated concrete forms (ICFs) made with recycled materials. This system will help block exterior noise. This also provides thermal insulation, substantial mass for storing heating and cooling and are also structural walls—all in one system.

• Concrete floors with radiant heating—healthier than forced air which can circulate dust and pollen.

• Wood products certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC); some lumber which has been locally grown; and sustainably harvested trees.

• Ventilation and passive means of cooling utilizing fans, shading and window adjustments such as shutters. This aspect is an example of involving the inhabitants of the building to make the system work—not just relying on a computerized system. The Lamas’ living quarters are planned for the third floor. Since they will not have a conventional air conditioning system, they are willing to accept a comfort level that may be as high as 81 degrees in summer rather than the industry standard of 78. They will also open downstairs windows at night in summer as well as using a system of shutters. A chimney effect in the middle of the building with night time ventilation shafts (called the night flush) will pull in cool air in summer between the hours of 2:00 AM and sunrise.

• Use of geothermal energy to assist in heating and cooling. The earth, because of its larger mass, has a much slower exchange of energy than the air. In winter, piping into the earth can borrow warmth; summer creates the opposite effect. In this system, the heat will be taken from the earth in heat pump style through pipes in the ground and put into the water that circulates in the radiant floor. Carlos Delgado points out that it’s not common practice to cool with radiant floors, but in this system the potential exists because of the geothermal access.

• Windows of double glazed glass to keep heat out and let light in. Windows with high performance reflective glazing on the west side cut unwanted heat gain and reduce glare.

• Water conservation through use of low flow fixtures; rainwater diverted to nearby wetlands.

• Electricity conservation through energy efficient lighting; on demand water heaters; maximum energy efficient appliances. In addition to being less polluting, the building will be all electric in order to accommodate a shared photovoltaic solar system planned for a building to be constructed next door to the center.

The architects stress that although it has taken a lot of thought during the design phase, ultimately this is a fairly simple passive building. It’s not about complex technology—it’s about being clear on the sensibility of how you want to operate, using natural systems to make the building work. Together, the group aspires to provide a model of ethical building practices in harmony with the environment and the community. If determination, faith and perseverance count for anything, their goal will be achieved. Nevertheless, funds are still needed in order to break ground. To learn more about KSC and their programs, please visit www.KSCAshland.org.

Any individual or organization interested in donating money or labor to bring this project to fruition, please contact Lama Pema and Lama Yeshe at (541) 552-1769.

Jody Woodruff, a retired social worker and educational film writer, now writes freelance from Talent, Oregon.