Each path will lead to a center such as an orphanage, a hospital, a school, a university

Several people visited the Master on the second floor of the house, among them some engineers who wanted His comments about the House of Worship. The Master answered:

The Mashriqu’l-Adhkar is circular in shape. It has nine paths, nine gardens, nine pools with fountains and nine gates. Each path will lead to a center such as an orphanage, a hospital, a school, a university and other buildings that are dependencies of the Mashriqu’l-Adhkar.

(Mahmud's Diary, November 3, 1912 Chicago, IL)

https://centenary.bahai.us/vignette/responding-some-engineers-about-baha-i-house-worship