Author: Eliza McLellan

After Superstorm Sandy, it is more apparent than ever before: we are building back for a disaster-prone future. We must adapt our building habits to reflect this future, as rebuilding to existing standards is no longer sufficient. Leaders from AIANY, AIANJ, and AIACT worked together as part of the AIA Regional Recovery Working Group to organize a full-day symposium and workshop to discuss and develop strategies to enable the rapid and smart recovery needed in the region.

On 07.09.13, Post-Sandy: The Effect on the URBAN Symposium and Workshop, hosted by the New Jersey Institute of Technology, addressed pressing issues in Newark, Hoboken, and Jersey City. The program drew interdisciplinary professionals from New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut to highlight efforts across the region. The day acted as a forum to share local design and policy initiatives, applied strategies and efforts, and lessons learned; to ignite conversation; and to find creative, practical, and far-reaching recovery solutions that communities can implement in their current planning processes. Continue reading ““Post-Sandy: The Effect on the URBAN” Symposium and Workshop”

When disaster strikes, red tape can prevent progress. Sometimes professionals who would also like to volunteer are discouraged from helping when they are needed most, either because of the lack of a state-level Good Samaritan law or comprehensive post-disaster training. This, however, is changing. The AIA Disaster Assistance Program is helping to revise policy, and in turn has created a more efficient and effective recovery system. The mission: to enable architects to volunteer alongside management officials and provide opportunities to help in disaster-stricken areas.
Continue reading “Crossing the Red Tape: New York Architects Complete Rapid Evaluation Training”