January - March Progress Report

We thought with the winter upon us, construction might slow down. To our great delight, we are progressing at lightning speed.

As we have stated in earlier reports, a great amount of the work at the Center project is underground.

Geothermal wells have been set and all the lines have been centrally routed to our mechanical cub room. Underground utilities, conduit for photovoltaic arrays, water lines, septic systems, an enormous underground water collection tank, propane tanks and cable runs for computer data needs are well underway.

It’s too bad we do not have see-through soil to see the entire infrastructure set below ground. As a result of our hard work, above ground will be a pristine mix of sustainable green architecture and xeric landscaping: a bucolic oasis to learn and share ideas.

Above ground, the Academy has purchased five photovoltaic arrays, each 10 feet tall by 20 feet wide set on poles that we will locate just east of the Caretakers’ quarters. The five arrays will be positioned in a gentle arc opening to the east. These arrays will follow the sun during the day, creating an elegant, sustainable, unobtrusive, sculpture on the landscape.

Now, this is where form and function meet. Electric companies need to purchase a portion of their energy from clean, renewable resources. The electric company pays more for electricity from a clean, renewable energy supply than it actually charges its customers. Thus the Academy can sell the clean energy it generates from these five arrays back to the electric company. As a result, the Academy will be supplied with electricity at no cost or at most a very low cost.

Also above ground, the Center, Caretaker/Guest House building and Art Studio have taken great shape. Walls and fireplaces have been erected. Steel beams have been set and welded in place. We have an exquisite cantilevered balcony off the second story Gallery or big group/classroom, which has been set. And even the walls of the second story have begun to be laid.

In addition, the adobe bricks of the mediation chapel have been set in place already nearly six feet high.

We can walk around the whole grounds, see and feel the coherence and the beauty that is surrounding us. The Academy will be a stunning architectural gem and serve as an example to those who want to live and work green.

Look for our next progress report in the near future.

Our second underground water storage tank being formed.
We will cover the entire concrete tank and lid under some four
feet of earth, making it invisible above ground.

Some of the Academy staff at the site.

View from the Caretakers' Quarters looking
west to the Center and Seton Castle.

View from the west of the Center, with the cantilevered
balcony off of our Gallery or large group room.

View of the start of the second floor above
the Academy's offices, looking east.

View looking west across the second floor above the
Academy offices to the Gallery or our main group room.