April 2010 Progress Report

Since our last report back in February, the Academy buildings have really begun to take shape. They look like buildings now! Many interior walls have been installed with sheetrock and taped. Most walls will have a low sheen diamond plaster finish and some walls will have an earthen mud plaster finish. We have started the plaster layer process indoors with the two base coats that go under the diamond plaster finish layer. Our beautiful cherry wood doors are in the process of being installed in the Center and birch doors installed in the Caretakers’ and Art Studio. These doors were all made right here in Santa Fe by local artisans.

Outside, the buildings have been prepared for stucco. We have the scratch and brown coat applied which are the first two layers of a stucco process and soon the finished stucco color will be applied.

We even have most of our exterior doors and windows installed. Just last week, our beautiful sliding glass doors in the gallery were set in place and this week the window and door system at our front entry is being installed.

We also activated our Photovoltaic Solar Arrays and they have been tied to the power grid. Instead of the electric meter on the utility dial turning forward, the photovoltaic arrays are actually turning back the clock! We should have a zero or no cost bills for electricity as a result of our installing the arrays. They are amazing to see as they slowly follow the sun during the course of the day. It is like a beautiful ballet. Sunrise facing east, gradually turning upward and following the sun and facing west as the sun sets.

As this is an incredibly detailed project with many intricacies, our completion date has been moved to late fall. We are all eager to move in, but realize there are many tasks still left to do before completion.

We are well on our way to a beautiful and sacred learning environment for all!

The Center looking from the south.

View from the west. Gallery or main group room to the right and the meditation chapel to the left.

Looking south at the gallery and the Sangre de Christo mountains.

Looking east from the balcony towards the guest quarters.

West side of the Center looking south.

East side of the Center looking south.

The Art Studio from the south with the Center to the left.

The east side of the Art studio.

The Center with the Seton Castle walls to the left. The Castle will be turned into a contemplative garden space.

The Art Studio from the south west.

The Caretakers' and guest house from the south.

Inside our Meditation Chapel.

The covered area of our Center courtyard looking south.

Working on the Academy office spaces looking north.

The start of our two-story entry way looking south west.

                  
Some of the crew working on the Center.

Our new Photovoltaic Arrays on the land.