Special Projects

(1) Buddha Memorial Center - Kaohsiung, Taiwan R.O.C.

In the year 2010, FSD has successfully completed the design, manufacture & install of steel structure for 8 numbers of Pagodas at Fo Guang Shang Monastery – Buddha Memorial Center project in, Kaoshiung, South of Taiwan. A team of engineers were formed to work closely with the design architect to ensure that the roof structure integrates well with the imported Japanese tiles. After several 3D rendering and numerous auto cad drawings, these were transformed to a full scale mock up. The close collaboration with the builder and the architects in ironing out the interfacing details has allowed Façade Solutions & Design to complete the project ahead of the time given.

Fo Guang Shang Monastery was impressed with how we have successfully managed the projects and thus entrust Facade Solutions & Design to design and build the roof system for an overseas project in Kolkata Gaya, India.

(2) Fo Guang Shan Institite of Buddhist Studies - India Bodhi Gaya

Design, and install of steel structure complete with insulated roof system for BLIA – Buddha’s Light International Associaton (Bodhi Gaya India) school for Fo Guang Shan Monastery.

The project is located at Gaya – The land of Lord Vishnu and Buddha. A team of 4 experienced workers and project manager was handpicked to undertake this project.

The design and manufacturing of the entire roof system including its steel structure were a carried out in Kaohsiung. Using a mixture of 3D modeling and auto cad, the cut list of material and a complete bill of quantities were developed. As all the components need to be shipped in container, a full scale mock up of a cut section of the roof were built to iron out interfacing details and also to indentify how each components are to be joined at site.

The preparation, simulation of works, and manufacturing of all the components and packaging took 6 weeks and shipping and land transfer took another 5 weeks.

The assembled team of workers led by our project manager flew to India (Chennai) and was met by the Monastery representative which led them to a 8 hours train journey before reaching the project site. Without prior overseas working experience, our team was filled with enthusiasm and anticipation. Faced with a culture shock, in a harsh environment where food supplies and common amenities were not readily available, the team perseveres and concentrates at the task on hand. Work hours were short as the midday temperature soars to a high of 40 degrees. This forces the team to shift the work hours to avoid the searing heat working from 6am to 11am and from 4pm to 8pm in view of the tight schedule.

Apart from the works, the team also spent time with the existing monastery which houses orphan, understanding the teachings of Buddhism and how the existence of the monastery manage to help the society at large. The team, with the help of local laborer, spent a total of 45 days to complete the project on time and hand them over to the Abbott of the Monastery.

The project team return from the trip feeling a sense of achievement, as quoted by the team leader, Xiao Wu “ at first, I was full of apprehension as the project is very challenging. We got over the initial culture shock after a few days and begin to acclimatize to the weather, the food and the work environment. We begin to see the detailed planning, preparation and mock up done before the trip quickly fall into places. This has allows us to assembled the components in a timely fashion given the very challenging conditions”