Cloud Hall at Green Gulch Farm Zen Center has provided housing for resident students since the early 1970s. Originally converted from a stable and barn, the building has undergone many ad hoc alterations over the years. The San Francisco Zen Center hired Siegel & Strain to give the building a much needed renovation and improve thermal comfort, universal access, life safety, energy efficiency, and acoustic privacy.

Siegel & Strain also designed a new two-story addition to Cloud Hall that houses Still Water Hall – new conference space on the ground floor with student housing above. A new universal access entry bridge on the north side connects Still Water Hall to the dining hall and other common facilities.

Site improvements were carefully considered to improve wayfinding and access, provide privacy for the Zen community living at the site, and fit sensitively into Green Gulch’s forested canyon.