Lao Buddhist Temple of Denver the rebuild project
THE FIRE
Thirty years ago, Laotian immigrants settled and called Colorado home and together they built the Lao Buddhist Temple of Denver. They built a community. However, on December 5, 2011, the Laotian community lost everything that they had built due to a fire that engulfed the main building, as commonly referred to as the Sala. If that was not the worst news that the community could endure, shortly after the fire, their beloved Venerable Monk, to which the namesake of the temple is named for, Wat Lao Sidaounnaram, was diagnosed with brain tumor and eventually succumbed to his deteriorating health. What would become of the Laotian community and its temple now that tragedy has struck and seemingly hope and faith would be lost?
AFTER THE FIRE
All hope and faith was not lost however. Nearly three years after the fire, a group of community volunteers and professionals have teamed up to form the LBT Rebuild team and accomplished some major milestones in the rebuild process. Just a week before Thanksgiving 2014, and less than six months after the city of Westminster’s unanimous vote in favor of the Temple’s planning and development submission, an approval of Permit for Construction had been granted and the community can finally break ground and rebuild.
“In the aftermath of destruction and tragedy, a community came together, formed a strong bond, a strong team, and made it a point to work together as a team, to rebuild, bigger and more beautiful than ever, something that our community and the city of Westminster can be proud of.”
Emmy Thammasine, Lead Designer and Lifelong Community Member
The outpour of so many volunteer’s time and dedication to rebuild portrays the importance of community: without a temple, there is no community, and without a community, there is no future and no identity for the future Lao generations growing up in Colorado.
“It's not an exaggeration to say that the temple is our community's heart and soul.”
Maly Khanthapixay, Lifelong Community Member
THE TEAM. THE VOLUNTEERS
With a plentitude of skillful and talented professionals within the community, architects, designers, engineers, accountants, administrators and project managers stepped up to the plate to volunteer and take on the responsibilities and leadership roles of a design and construction project. Being that each and every volunteer has a full-time job and a family, finding extra time to dedicate to another “full-time job” of rebuilding would prove to be challenging. However, time never became an issue. Family, friends and the community understood the importance of rebuilding project and gave full support to the volunteers. Their continued support and understanding makes them a critical part of the team.
INSPIRED TO DESIGN/DESIGNED TO INSPIRE
Inspiration and design comes in many shapes and forms. The inspiration of this community grew out of disaster and tragedy. Their inspiration has led to hard work and a beautiful design. The design, in turn, was meant to inspire: inspiring the future Lao generations to preserve the Laotian culture and the teachings of Buddhism.
The design intent was to narrate the past, beautify the present and inspire the future. The past is an architectural style of French Colonial Architecture combined with design elements that tells the story of Buddhism. The sweeping curved roof creates a dramatic sensation, reaching up to the skies, mimicking the majestic flatirons in the background as it rises up towards the sky. Exaggerated overhangs of the roof not only add to the dramatic sensation, but also provide shaded relief and protection from the ever changing Colorado weather. The colors are vibrant as it incorporates traditional color symbology of Buddhism. Every detail of the building draws inspiration from traditional Lao Buddhist Temples, from the ornate door and window surrounds to the profiles of the base and materials. The building is really simply a blank canvas for an artist to create inspired artwork. Artwork, whether it is mural paintings or wooden sculptures, represents the beautification of the present and opens the door to the future.
What was erected thirty years ago on this site was done so with limited resources, education and money. Many Laotian immigrants at that time came to America with little to nothing but with much faith, heart, soul and a single vision of creating a bright future for the children, they built a community. The community today, armed with higher education, more resources, newer technologies and money, has a golden opportunity to rebuild, re-strengthen, and replenish a culture and community that was reduced to ashes. Looking forward, the possibilities are limitless for the Lao Buddhist Temple of Denver and its community.
The vision becoming reality is near. The team and the community is excited. The city of Westminster is excited. The permit has been obtained and something beautiful is about to happen. Let’s go Lao Buddhist Temple of Denver.
