“A
happy accident” brought together AIA Columbus and Creative Housing
Inc., says Diane Deane, the chapter’s executive director. The partners
joined forces to build ramps on a duplex home for two families with accessibility
needs on August 27. Some 30 AIA members from the Columbus chapter put
in about 125 person-hours constructing two concrete ramps for a 1960s
Ranch-style duplex that is being renovated by Creative Housing, a nonprofit
that provides safe, accessible, and affordable housing to individuals
with disabilities in the Columbus metropolitan area. Deane says that
the chapter’s “first-ever community service project was an
incredible success.”
A member of the chapter’s continuing education committee first
proposed the idea of doing an ADA makeover project as a community service
and outreach initiative. After a little hunting on the Internet, Creative
Housing, already doing successful and thoughtful ADA renovation work
on properties that are bought and then leased back to tenants at below-market
rates, was identified as an excellent fit.
“Creative Housing turned out to be a wonderful partner for us,” reports
Deane. “The staff was helpful, knowledgeable, and very committed
to improving the lives of people with disabilities. There was one staff
member who certainly could’ve been working for a contractor, and
probably making a lot more money, who told me, ‘It just feels better
doing this kind of work on a day-to-day basis.’ They really energized
the volunteers and were such a great group to work with that we’re
planning on partnering with them again next year—next time it will
likely include knocking down walls.”
AIA Columbus provided the workers, and Creative Housing
provided the equipment, liability protection, materials, and project
management. In addition, Creative Housing is incorporating a number of
other accessible features, including widening the hallways for improved
wheelchair mobility by eliminating closets, renovating the kitchen, and
adding an accessible bathroom. The group will also replace the two homes’ roofs,
gutters, soffits, and windows. The duplex is expected to be ready for
occupancy in about 90 days by four non-ambulatory individuals identified
by Creative Housing. The pro bono design work was contributed anonymously
by a local AIA member firm.
The rain-or-shine project began at 6:30 a.m., with the group digging
holes by hand under a clear summer sky. AIA Columbus volunteers worked
on building the ramps in six different stages and shifts, with the ultimate
goal of completing the project by early evening. As the concrete trucks
pulled up around noon, however, the heavens unleashed their contents
and the crew was forced quickly to attach tarps to the roof to continue
work. The volunteers continued until 4 p.m., but unfortunately were unable
to finish installing the wood railings because of the additional time
they had to spend working with the rain-delayed concrete. The railings
will be completed by Creative Housing prior to occupancy.
All of the members who worked on the project received HSW continuing
education learning units for each hour worked (with means and methods
of construction as the learning objective). Deane also notes with pride
that although there were some of the usual faces involved, the event “attracted
members we hadn’t seen before. It was a terrific event, in part
because we were able to reach a whole different section of our membership.” As
a result of the significant interest and turnout, the chapter’s
continuing education committee plans to add community-service programs
to their offerings in 2006.
Deane also notes that the feedback from the community has been tremendous.
The event was covered by two local newspapers and a television station.
In addition, the e-mails and phone calls have been pouring in from residents
expressing their pleasure with both the chapter and its members.
—Heather Livingston
Copyright 2005 The American Institute of Architects.
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