Kansas Zen Center
Lawrence, KS (2019)
1201 Laura Ave
The Kansas Zen Center has been in Lawrence, Kansas since 1978. Initially the center operated out of a house on New York Street, but it was not ADA accessible. The center purchased an empty lot in the Brook Creek neighborhood in East Lawrence where their current building resides. The center consists of a two-story 4,000 square-foot building accompanied by a meditation garden. The building was completed in 2019 and the garden was added later. Karl Ramberg, a highly regarded local craftsman, assisted with the project and included his own personal touches, such as the lotus symbol carved into the stone near the entrance.
Main features on the first floor are accessible to all. The first floor includes a Dharma classroom which features vaulted ceilings and large windows that welcome in natural light. The first floor also includes a social hall, robe room, kitchen, and bathrooms. The second floor is home to a yoga studio along with the caretaker’s room. The yoga studio also functions as a room to sleep in during the center’s retreats. The building is a fire-sprinkled wood frame building. Additionally, the exterior of the building is completed with hardwood rain screen siding.
The Kansas Zen Center is an affiliate of the Kwan Um School of Zen. It is a 501(c)3 Kansas nonprofit that relies on membership dues, the support of volunteers and donations from the community. The center exists as a place for people to practice Zen and encourage participants to attain their true self. The center also offers various retreats, classes, ceremonies and social events.
