Jain Center Los Angeles CA 2008 09 Pratishta Souvenior

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

Page 44

engineering and to share the savings.
The construction of Phase I was financed through a combination of a bank loan from Nara Bank, and donations and interest free loans from the members.
Construction of Phase I began in October 2002. Time was of the essence. The construction had to proceed immediately to complete the subterranean parking facility before the start of the rainy season.
While continuing to make use of the original Jain Bhavan, JCSC focused on constructing a Cultural Complex as Phase I of the master plan. The construction which began in October 2002 was completed in March 2005. The 62,000 sq ft complex built at a cost of $11 million was inaugurated on 27 March, 2005. The state-of-the-art facility includes an auditorium, Pathshala and swadhyay rooms, a museum, a commercial-grade kitchen, a dining hall, and subterranean parking for 53 vehicles.
The exterior of the building is constructed of superbly carved Jesalmer yellow limestone which was designed, manufactured and supplied by TCPL, Ahmedabad, India, and installed by MS International, using appropriate steel supports to address earthquake codes. Windows and roof parapets, designed and finished to match the exterior carved stonework, were fabricated locally using a lighter-weight FRP material. Natural stone, including marble and colorful granite, has been used extensively throughout the interior to finish the floors, staircases, and walls.
A major feature of the Cultural Complex includes a 104-year old wooden temple erected in the entry foyer of the building. Once displayed in the courtyard of the Castaways Casino in Las Vegas, this priceless art relic was donated to JCSC when the casino was demolished. Intricately and exquisitely carved of teakwood by sixty five artisans over a two-year period, it is a replica of the famed Palitana Temple. Originally commissioned by the British government, the 15 ft x 20 ft x 35 ft high wooden temple weighing nearly 10,000 lbs was first displayed in the United States at the 1904-1905 St. Louis World Fair. It has finally found an appropriate permanent home and is proudly displayed at the Jain Center.
A parking lot with 50 parking spaces was also completed in Phase I. The parking lot site was originally occupied by a Volvo dealership and acquired by JCSC in 1998. The parking lot is situated across the street from the main facility.