Eastern Buddhist College was the earliest building on the Fo Guang Shan complex. Its foundation was surveyed and mapped by the surveying team of about 10 teachers and students from Kaohsiung Provincial Vocational School. The topographic map created by the team was produced into the elevation model which later was entered into an international architecture awards. The team was honored as runner-up in the international engineering category. Reminiscing the early development days of this wasteland on Fo Guang Shan, chief engineer Hsiao Ting-shun said, "We had to completely accommodate to the specific terrain. Venerable Master would pick up the bamboo branches as pens of an architect. He would do simple sketches on the ground as he walked along. From there, we gesticulated and deliberated how best to shift the earth and fill the ditches.
