Jain Center Los Angeles CA 2008 09 Pratishta Souvenior

Author(s): Jain Center So CA Los Angeles
Publisher: USA Jain Center Southern California

Page 32

JAIN CENTER OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA A PICTORIAL HISTORY OF THE PROJECT
Chandrakant Parekh
Jain Center of Southern California (JCSC) was established on 15 September 1979. A decision to build a custom Jain Bhavan led to the purchase of a vacant lot in the City of Buena Park on 15 November 1985.
Bhumi pujan ceremonies were performed by Dr. Chunibhai and Ilaben Shah and their two sons, Ajit and Ajay, on Friday, 6 March 1987.
Grading of the 25,000 sq ft site began in June 1987. The foundation was laid in August 1987 and the construction was completed on 20 April 1988.
Architect: Dhiren Shah, Cerritos, CA Contractor: JCSC Owner-build.
An 11,500 sq ft Jain Bhavan - with an auditorium, and kitchen/dining facility on the 1st floor, and the Derasar and classrooms on the 2nd floor - was inaugurated on 1-4 July 1988.
Built at an approximate cost of $1 million, the Jain Bhavan was one of the first customdesigned facilities in USA to address the needs of a Jain community for religious, educational, cultural, and outreach activities.