January 28, 2026
A Buddhist Temple Rises in the
Bay Area: Part II
The day begins early at Wat Khmer Kampuchea Krom. Crews arrive before sunrise and work begins as first light appears. Progress is marked by visible changes on site and continued design coordination with trusted partners in Cambodia. Step by step, the collective vision is taking shape.
This is the second installment in an ongoing series created in collaboration with Andrew Mann Architecture and A Khmer Buddhist Foundation. The new temple in San Jose will serve as a cultural and spiritual home for the local Khmer community. Through this work, we follow the team’s effort to realize a shared vision rooted in culture, community and craft.
On the Ground in Cambodia
This past fall, the AMA team returned to Cambodia for continued collaboration with AO Architects, our architectural partner in Phnom Penh. Together they visited workshops where artisans are shaping the project’s most culturally significant elements.
The elements being crafted are more than decorative. Each draws from Khmer heritage and centuries of practice. Their integration bridges past and present, linking traditional artistry with modern construction. Grounded in the Foundation’s goal of supporting traditional artistry in Cambodia, this ongoing collaboration ensures meaning and intent are carried through every phase of the project.
On Site in California
Back in San Jose, construction continues across the temple grounds. From the Community Building, there’s a clear view of the sanctuary and daily activity underway. Exteriors are advancing. Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems are being finalized. Decorative elements are being integrated across the site. Each contributes and helps move the project forward in meaningful ways.
Preparing for Interior Work
Inside the Community Building, work has shifted above the ceilings. Large heating and cooling equipment is now in place, along with the ductwork needed to move air throughout the space. The volume here is significant, with long spans, high ceilings, and broad open areas, all of which influence the size and layout of the equipment.
This infrastructure supports heating, cooling, and air circulation across the space. Crews are focused on aligning and securing each element to ensure it fits and functions as designed. The work will eventually be hidden, but plays a critical role in the building’s performance and comfort.
Before any interiors can be closed up, the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems must be fully installed and tested. Installing drywall depends on the successful completion of this phase.
Fire Protection and Coordination
In the sanctuary, sprinkler installation is progressing. One of the more complex areas is the exterior circulation corridor, a covered walkway that wraps around the building. This is an unconditioned space with exposed trusses and beams, all visible from below.
Routing pipe through this structure requires a carefully coordinated effort to preserve the architectural intent while meeting life safety requirements. The result is a clean and integrated installation. These systems are designed to protect, but they are also shaped to respect the space they inhabit.
Inside the Sanctuary
From the west end of the sanctuary, where a large east-facing Buddha statue will be eventually placed, the view looking back captures the full volume of the space. Windows are now installed throughout and mark a turning point in the feel of the room.
Light enters with more definition, activating the interior in new ways that affect how the space is experienced. It feels more grounded and the atmosphere is beginning to emerge. For a space that will serve as a setting for stillness and reflection, this stage of construction offers a preview of the presence it will ultimately hold.
Stonework and Setting
Decorative masonry elements are being installed across the site. The design is a collaboration between Strata Landscape Architecture and the temple’s artist in Cambodia. Produced locally in California using precast methods, these pieces reflect a visual language rooted in Khmer tradition.
Installation requires care and precision. The fit of each component is critical, and crews are working methodically to ensure consistent alignment and clean integration with the concrete structure. These additions begin to articulate the exterior surfaces in a new way. While subtle in some areas and more pronounced in others, they add texture, definition, and identity to the architecture.
Concrete and Meditation
In the meditation garden, new concrete work marks another step forward. This area will serve as a quiet, contemplative space with a design that emphasizes simplicity, calm, and balance.
A newly formed concrete bench now traces the edge of the garden. Unlike foundational pours that are later covered or concealed, this surface will remain fully visible. That level of finish demands tight coordination. Crews had to pour, rough trowel, strip the forms, and complete the final trowel pass in one continuous sequence to ensure a smooth, consistent result.
That kind of execution requires experience and trust. Each team member understood their role, and the rhythm of the work reflected communication, focus, and care. The result is simple, but the process of getting there was anything but.
The Monks’ Quarters
The monks’ quarters occupy a dedicated floor of the larger community building. Inside, a sequence of modest rooms is taking shape to support the daily rhythm of monastic life.
Theravada Buddhism is built on a reciprocal relationship between monks and laypeople. Monks devote themselves to spiritual practice, study, and teaching. In return, the lay community offers material support. This mutual exchange reinforces generosity, compassion, and shared responsibility.
As noted in our first installment, monks observe a three-month retreat during the fall rainy season called Vassa. They remain in one place, deepening their focus through meditation and discipline. At its conclusion, the Kathina ceremony takes place. During this festival, laypeople offer new robes and other essentials. The gesture is both practical and symbolic, renewing bonds between the two communities.
Cambodia Travels
As part of their return to Cambodia, the team visited with Samdech Preah Maha Areyavong Dr. Yon Seng Yeath, one of the country’s highest-ranking monks and a leading voice in Buddhist scholarship. His insight offered a meaningful reminder of the values these new spaces are meant to support.
As construction continues in California, AMA and the Foundation move forward with quiet resolve and shared intent, honoring a tradition that extends far beyond the site and made possible by the hands, wisdom, and dedication of many.
