Jain Center Los Angeles CA 2008 09 Pratishta Souvenior

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

Page 45

PHASE II: RELIGIOUS COMPLEX
The design of Phase II of the master plan was initiated by architect Arun Phadnis of LTI, Inc. and subsequently taken over and completed by architect Shirish Desai of SRD Architects, Inc.
Planning of the Phase II was initiated as the Phase I construction was nearing completion. JCSC decided to demolish the existing Jain Bhavan, since it was structurally inadequate to carry the weight of exterior limestone and interior marble structural elements.
In comparison to the design of Cultural Complex building, use of wood has been avoided for the Religious Complex building. It is constructed of masonry blocks, aluminum frames, and steel structures. This option avoided a need to provide a secondary structure to support the exterior stones and also precludes possibility of termite-related damage in the future. Additionally, this design and construction approach offers an advantage of a longer lifespan of the structure.
Detailed construction documents for Phase II were presented to the City of Buena Park for their review and approval. Following a Public Hearing, the City of Buena Park approved a Conditional Use Permit in April 2006 and issued a construction permit in November 2006.
After reviewing bids from few general contractors, JCSC decided to proceed with the construction as an owner-built project. The decision was made on cost considerations. JCSC negotiated with Desai Construction and Developers, Inc. to manage the construction on behalf of JCSC.
Once again, the construction of Phase II was financed through a combination of a bank loan from Manufacturer's Bank, and donations and interest free loans from the members.
As mentioned earlier, the original Jain Bhavan had to be demolished to initiate Phase II of the master plan. The idols of the three Tirthankars and the Yaksha and Yakshini were temporarily re-located to an upstairs location in the Cultural Complex following an uthapan ceremony performed in March 2006.
Located on the site of the original Jain Bhavan which is now demolished, the construction of the Religious Complex began in February 2007 and was completed in September 2008.
The new 13,000 sq ft Religious Complex includes an Aradhana Hall on the 1st floor and a new Derasar on the 2nd floor. The Derasar has a main Garbh Grah with idols of five Tirthankar, a bhamati with idols of 24 Tirthankars, gokhlas of Dev and Devis, a rangmandap, a dome, and a shikhar. Models of a Samvosaran Temple and Rushbhdev's Paglas are displayed in an exhibition hall on the 2nd floor. The Aradhana Hall, strictly reserved for religious and spiritual activities, currently has a Navkar Mantra pat. Its