About DILA

認識本校

School Headquarters (Jinshan Campus)

Campus and Facilities

 
The school campus spans over 30 hectares. It is located at the foot of the Datun Mountain, Jinshan District, New Taipei City, and is adjacent to the 15-hectare Dharma Drum Mountain World Center for Buddhist Education. It overlooks the Jinshan plains and the Pacific Ocean, with a view on both mountains and sea. The campus buildings are designed with simplicity and environmental protection as their design principles, integrating the school buildings into their natural surroundings. The new campus buildings of the former Dharma Drum Buddhist College merged into Dharma Drum Institute of Liberal Arts include the Chanyue House, Yangsheng Fitness Center, and the General Building. The main functions of the Chanyue House include student accommodations and library. The library is located in the Liying Hall; the Yangsheng Fitness Center supports student activities, meditation and yoga practice, and fitness; the General Buildings includes both teaching, administrative, and student life functions. The buildings of the original Dharma Drum Buddhist College, including the Library and Information Center, Fayin House (faculty dormitory, VIP building), etc., have been integrated to become part of the overall learning and student activity facilities.
 

Environmental Protection, Implementation and Education

 
The school adheres to the founder Master Sheng Yen's philosophy of “Protecting the Spiritual Environment”: "Put environmental protection first and try not to destroy nature. Buildings should be like organisms growing from the earth, in harmony with nature. Do not try to artificially enhance nature’s beauty and avoid high-rise buildings as much as possible. Everything should be done to preserve the original nature of the school’s environment. As a part of the school's environmental education, the concept of Protecting the Spiritual Environment is thoroughly implemented in the building space and the use of energy. In the early stage of planning, the original landscape and vegetation were preserved as much as possible, with a forest coverage rate of more than 50% and a conservation area of 30%. In order to avoid excessive excavation and filling often seen in conventional development of hillside land, the buildings were built according to the mountain’s natural shape and close to the ground in an effort to preserve the original topography and landforms. The construction of tall and bulky retaining walls was avoided, with terraces and grassy slopes preserving the campus’ unique natural environment.
 

Campus Overall Planning and Professional Consultant Team

 
During the early planning phase, the school’s successive construction phases were scheduled according to the school’s expected needs and scale. This planning model allowed for the implementation of the Dharma Drum ethos and architectural vision into the overall campus space, creating a natural, minimalistic, and cohesive campus aesthetic. The overall campus development planning and landscape design was entrusted to the professional Dayuan team of architects.
 

A place for Learning and Sharing

 
The campus offers a wide field of vision; facing the sea with one’s back to the mountains, it is a truly remarkable scenic spot. Ideally located with easy access to Keelung, Taipei, and Tamsui, it is not disturbed by the hustle and bustle of a major city, while still maintaining connections with metropolitan areas. It is an extremely suitable location for setting up a university. The architectural planning of the school is based on the principle of Spiritual Environmental Protection, respecting the original topography and flora of the land, arranging the buildings to avoid disrupting the natural environment. The design of the building seeks to achieve a sense of calm and restrained momentum, creating a lively and open atmosphere. The colors are simple and elegant, creating a sense of stability and peace. The architectural design aims at a simple and rustic aesthetic, combining the abstract concepts of Eastern Zen thought and the modernity of Western rational science. The various teaching, administration, and student life facilities are arranged in a smooth and appropriate manner according to the natural flow of the terrain’s lines. The calm and beautiful campus environment combined with the humanistic and harmonious life atmosphere is suitable for learning and thinking, creating a unique space where students and visitors can learn from the campus environment itself. Buildings that gradually retreat along the terrain form a diverse and concentric space for learning, communication, and activities. Multi-level open spaces are used to closely connect the entire campus with a circular pedestrian system.
 

Future Developments

 
In order to meet the students' enrollment schedule and the actual development needs of school affairs, and to make the most effective use of the school facilities, the campus construction was divided into two phases. The first phase included the General Building (administration, teaching and living), Chanyue House (dormitory, book reading), Yangsheng Fitness Center (gymnasium, student activities), Public Equipment Center, Dayuan Bridge, etc. The second phase, which is currently undergoing further planning, includes the Dahui Hall (large-scale public event space, library), Hejing House (dormitory, continuing education), etc.
 

Current Campus Map

 
In order to promote environmental protection and prevent light pollution from affecting student life and nocturnal animals inhabiting the school campus, the school has implemented gentle lighting, reducing unnecessary lighting sources to reduce light pollution and improve living quality during the nighttime.