ASHLAND – Construction of a 16,000-square-foot expansion of the Sri Lakshmi Temple on Waverly Street is underway.
The temple expansion will increase the facility’s size by a third, according to a press release from Vantage Builders, the Waltham-based construction firm completing the project. The current building, which has been renovated and expanded in the past, is around 50,000 square feet.
The extra space will give the temple more space to offer classes, worship services and cultural events.
The $2.1 million project will be divided into two phases: the construction of the main two-story building and the interior work. The first phase is expected to be complete by November.
The new building will have access to the temple on both floors. The upper level will have an auditorium or multipurpose room, a boardroom and a library. The main lobby will be naturally lit with skylights.
The lower level will have a commercial kitchen, pantry and large dining facility for temple worshipers, visitors and staff. The building will also have utility rooms, showers and bathrooms.
The Sri Lakshmi Temple, which opened in 1986, is one of the largest Hindu temples in the state. It’s located on a hill behind a wooded area along Rte. 135 on the Ashland and Framingham border.