Sri Venkateswara Swami BALAJI TEMPLE

Sri Venkateswara Swami (Balaji) Temple is a Hindu temple located in Aurora, Illinois. The 20 acre location is a forum for worshipping Sri Venkateswara Swami, an important God in Vedic Scriptures - followed by millions of people worldwide. The temple is not only a place of worship but also a center for cultural and educational activities for the Hindu community in Chicagoland.

Hindu Temples have been an integral part of the Indian society for thousands of years. The Hindu religion has a rich tradition and style of temple building, with India being home to thousands of these holy sites. As one might expect, these unique constructions require special thinking from our team of engineers. While some companies rely on “plug and chug” systems of duplication and recurring design choices, Millies Engineering Group is proud to distinguish ourselves with the ability to take on projects like these with special requirements. Hindu temples are not just places of worship but also cultural and social centers, offering a variety of classes, services, and amenities for people of any faith.

This temple in particular hints at how disconnected the Hindu community was throughout the United States. For devotees in Chicagoland, their closest option was all the way in Pittsburgh, leading to a feeling of spiritual discontent in the region. In 1985, 20 acres of land were donated, leading to the construction of the first temple structure, which was then upgraded with the help of Millies Engineering Group.

Different than other projects our firm has designed, Balaji temple is unique in its purpose. Rather than a financial asset that could be sold one day, the building was meant to be a site of worship for countless generations to come. With that goal, we were able to outfit the building with some of the best engineering solutions available. 

In addition to the building codes of Aurora, we had to include prerequisites to follow the Hindu tradition of creating an agamic space. This project was so successful, in fact, it served as a template and inspiration to other temples erected throughout the country after its completion in late 2022. From the atrium bathed in natural light, to dedicated spaces for cultural and educational activities, Balaji Temple is prepared to offer this expansive platform to foster spiritual growth in the community for decades to come.