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Design After Disaster: AIA, Architecture for Humanity Award Response Grants

Friday, July 13, 2012

More items for Good Technical Practice

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) and Architecture for Humanity recently announced grant recipients for the 2012 Disaster Response Plan Grant.

macahanC6R Eje Gustafsson/Wikimedia Commons

The AIA and Architecture for Humanity provide grants to develop disaster-response programs. Those programs can assist following devastating disasters such as the May 22, 2011 tornado that barreled through Joplin, Mo.

Awards totaling $10,000 will help each group implement their locally driven preparedness project in the second half of the year.

The grant program is part of the AIA’s Disaster Resiliency and Recovery Program, which coordinates the organization’s advocacy, education and training to help architects make effective contributions to communities preparing for, responding to and rebuilding after disaster.

The projects selected and the AIA’s descriptions follow.

Architecture for Humanity D.C. Chapter Disaster Response Project

The project aims to engage D.C. architects in preparing the District’s shelters, helping with post-disaster damage assessment, and allowing architects to serve as leaders in all the communities of our nation’s capital.

It also aims to engage D.C. architects in documenting and learning lessons from past disasters.

Washington State Disaster Preparedness and Response (DPR)

A new Intrastate Mutual Aid law in the state allows architects, engineers and code officials to receive training and integrate with emergency management, but many of the details are yet to be determined.

The DPR will advocate, educate and train these design professionals to help implement the new law and prepare communities for disaster.

NYC Safety Assessments Trainings

In partnership with AIA/NY and the New York Office of Emergency Management (OEM), Architecture for Humanity NY (AFHny) will develop a disaster-response network and offer periodic trainings in the post-disaster Safety Assessment Program (SAP).

Disaster Assistance Coordination Network in Maryland

AIA Baltimore, in partnership with the Architecture for Humanity Baltimore chapter, plans to establish an active Disaster Assistance Program for the state of Maryland.

This group will communicate between the state emergency-management agencies, AIA, and other emergency-management professionals in the region to develop plans and programs to address disaster preparedness and recovery.

Illinois Architects’ Emergency Management/Disaster Response Workshop

The workshop will have involve leaders of AIA and Architecture for Humanity in working collaboratively to develop an industry-specific comprehensive statewide disaster-response plan in an exercise environment working alongside emergency-management officials.

In addition, the leaders will help develop a post-workshop toolkit highlighting the architect’s role in emergency management in Illinois.

More information: www.ArchitectsRebuild.org and www.aia.org.