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Fig. 1 -- 2005 Jul 08: From middle of zendo room, looking toward South wall. The gypsum board is stacked where the altar usually sits. Note that the insulation board on the walls, a styrofoam with R-value of 5 per inch of thickness (NOTE ADDED 2005 Jul 16: the insulation has now been beefed-up to R-9!), has been attached to the firring strips (in this case, 2x4 studs, used on-the-flat and anchored to the brick of the wall and to header and footer 2x4s). On this 112-degree day, the room was remarkably cool! The insulation on the sunny walls is proving itself aleady. Hail! --Photo by JM.
Fig. 2 -- 2005 Jul 08: A view from about the middle of the zendo, again, looking toward the East wall. We see the cut-out for the 5-foot wide, 2-foot high window on the East wall, at right, not yet cut completely through the hollow red brick to the outside (the Tucson thunderstorm monsoon is impending, and yet to start; windows are on order, and not yet arrived). Three more such windows will grace the West wall. There will be a selectable amount of cross-ventilation of fresh air, and an adjustable amount of natural light. Seen stacked in the middle of the room is a pile of R-19 fiber insulation batting for the ceiling, covered by sheets of R-5 wall insulation. EXTRA R-4 poly-iso-cyanurate board was also added in the next week (not seen here), to fill out the remaining space between the brick and the inside of the dry-wall board. This gives the East, South, and West walls an R-value of 9, for the insulation alone, plus the R-value contributed by the dry-wall board. We thus have interior insulation of about R-10 (very good!). We see, at center, the access to the Pink-Tile Room (and beyond, to the garden), which will soon be upgraded by fitting-out with beautiful natural wood double doors. Photo gives a good view of the new 2x8 ceiling joists which have been installed to house the new R-19 fiberglas ceiling insulation batts, and to carry the gypsum-board ceiling, to replace the old acoustical panel drop-ceiling. --Photo by JM.
Fig. 3 -- 2005 Jul 08: Pretty much like the previous picture, but showing the concrete sub-floor which had been the fundament for the concrete floor we added and which we have by now removed. An absolutely lovely and inspirational wood floor will soon float over the concrete we see here. --Photo by JM.
Fig. 4 -- 2005 Jul 08: Looking toward the South wall, we see the East wall at left. We have a good view, too, of the new 2x8 ceiling joists. It will be a short while yet before we'll chant the Heart Sutra again in this room. Many thanks to all ZDS contributors and benefactors, our members and friends who have worked on fundraising for this upgrade and the completed successful remodeling of the zendo Fireplace Room and Library Room. Hats off to Jose, our present contractor, and his hardy troupe, working through the peak of Tucson's heat-season (click, for the past 7-days' temperature graphs...) to progress in this major upgrade for ZDS and for our Town, and for those who will follow us in the practice in future years: Gracias! --Photo by JM.
Fig. 5 -- 2005 Jul 16: Standing near the site of the altar, looking West, we have this view of the West wall, showing the cutout for one of the three West wall windows, now framed-around (inside, hidden here) with dimensional lumber; the wall insulation is covered with dry-wall board, and the dry-wall joints are taped and filled. Note, too, that the ceiling has also been finished with dry-wall board; the ceiling is now about 3 inches higher than ever before. Progress continues apace! --Photo by JM.
Fig. 6 -- 2005 Jul 16: Showing an oblique view into the cross-section of the structure around and about two of the three window cutouts on the West wall, and typical also of that of the single window cutout on the East wall. --Photo by JM.
Fig. 7 -- 2005 Jul 16: Looking North, toward the familiar, existing zendo double doors, from well inside the zendo. --Photo by JM.
Fig. 8 -- 2005 Jul 16: From left to right, ZDS Vice President, Greg Anderson, and President, Bob Wallin, minutes before the Board Meeting at which remodelling progress was to figure large on the meeting agenda. --Photo by JM.
Fig. 9 -- 2005 Jul 16: ...Do we have time for a little joke?: Why, certainly. --Photo (etc.) by JM.
Fig. 10 -- 2005 Aug 07: "What does Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva do with all those hands and arms?" Here, Vicki arranges and rearranges library books, and makes a dedicated shelf for "New Books", of which we're blessed to have many, lately. Thank you, Vicki, and thank you Diana, and Brad! --Photo by JM.
Fig. 11 -- 2005 Aug 07: Artist at work: Kim, sealing one of the double wood doors between the zendo and the Pink-Tile Room, on Sunday, after the staining party on Saturday. Watching out for drips: "Gravity never sleeps!"--Photo by JM.
Fig. 12 -- 2005 Aug 07: Artist at work: Bob, sealing the South-West-most window's wood parts on Sunday, after the staining party on Saturday. Being sure to seal every square millimeter. --Photo by JM.
Fig. 13 -- 2005 Aug 07: New door; windows!: early stage. The view from the center of the zendo, monsoon brewing, Sunday, after the staining party on Saturday left the wood parts ready for sealing. --Photo by JM.
Fig. 14 -- 2005 Aug 07: Artists at rest: Taking a breather, ventilation fans blasting; varnish drying. "Round 1" of the sealing is completed. Round 2 commences the next weekend. Here we see Kim, Bob, and Jim. "Zazen" with cinder blocks, ceiling jacks, a ladder, and shovels. Our sacred hall in transition (and we, too). --Photo by JM.
Fig. 15 -- 2005 Sep 07: West wall, near sunset; walls and ceiling painted. A nice job of painting has been done by the sangha, seen on this Wednesday evening (before zazen to take place in the temporary sitting quarters in the Fireplace Room). --Photo by JM.
Fig. 16 -- 2005 Sep 07: East wall of the zendo, setting sun warming the wood of the East window. On the same Wed. evening, a view along the East wall of the freshly painted zendo. Flooring will soon be installed!
Fig. 17 -- 2005 Nov 05: The zendo, completed. Hardwood flooring has by now been installed for several weeks, and the zendo has again been in regular use. On this Saturday, the zendo has just finished being used from 7:25 AM - 10:15 AM for Saturday zazen, including dokusan with Pat Hawk Roshi. The wood floor and other wood details in the zendo look very warm under the Tungsten ceiling lights.
Fig. 18 -- 2005 Nov 05: Like the above photo; but this view was made with the zendo lights turned off, and rather bluish daylight illuminates the room, here. We see that artificial lighting will not always need to be used; the brightness of the natural light can be effectively adjusted with the window shutters. With many thanks to our members and donors, the sacred hall in which we share our practice now offers the further blessings of natural light, natural views and natural sounds through the windows, and fresh air to inspire, support, and nourish our Bodhisattva practice.