Brookfield radio studio becomes meditation center after decades of rock 'n' roll

The Brahma Kumaris group bought the former i95 radio property at 1014 Federal Road to convert the 5,000-square-foot studio into a community-focused meditation center with a 100-seat hall; Brookfield has a public hearing scheduled on the renovation plans.

After four decades as a rock 'n' roll broadcaster, a Federal Road studio in Brookfield is being converted into a community meditation center by the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual Organization. The nonprofit bought the 1-acre former i95 radio property at 1014 Federal Road after Brookfield's Zoning Commission approved the space as an assembly use. The group, a women-led movement with thousands of centers worldwide, says the facility will host meditation sessions, workshops and educational programs focused on mindfulness and well-being. Renovation permission from the town is the next regulatory step. Key details: - The property at 1014 Federal Road was purchased by Brahma Kumaris; the i95 radio station has moved to downtown Danbury. - Brookfield's Zoning Commission previously approved the 5,000-square-foot former headquarters as an assembly use. - Floor plans show a commercial kitchen, guest dining room, a 100-seat meditation hall with a stage and audio-visual booth, a separate 40-seat room, two guest rooms with bathrooms, and six smaller classrooms. - Overnight beds are described in the application as accommodations for volunteers assisting with programs and operations, not as a lodging business. - A public hearing on the interior renovation is scheduled for Thursday, and the group has applied to the wetlands commission to expand parking from 18 to 33 spaces. - The application notes Brahma Kumaris has a global network of about 8,500 centers in 110 countries and a local presence since 2017. Summary: The project would transform a longtime local broadcast site into a community-oriented meditation and education space, adding capacity for workshops and overnight volunteer support. Brookfield officials will review the renovation plans at the scheduled public hearing, and a separate wetlands permit decision is pending on the proposed parking expansion. The timeline for the center's opening depends on the outcome of those approvals.