AIA New Orleans, AIA Louisiana, AIA national component join forces with local community-based organizations: As New Orleans begins to look toward the initial planning efforts for the massive task of its rebuilding, the AIA national component is partnering with local chapters—of the AIA, the Urban Land Institute, American Planning Association, the Housing Finance Authority, and other related organizations—to foster a community-based team that already has a strong working relationship in supporting smart-growth and community-development initiatives. Representatives from each of the groups assembled at the AIA Louisiana offices in Baton Rouge September 26 and 27 to plan for an upcoming Sustainability Design Assistance Team (SDAT) for the city.

“The AIA national component has confirmed to AIA Louisiana and AIA New Orleans that we will deliver SDAT capabilities to New Orleans,” says David Downey, Assoc. AIA, managing director of the national component’s Center for Livable Communities. “We’re coming to the table as a partner, not the ‘leader,’ and we understand that the SDAT scope first needs to be tailored to best position local professionals’ expertise in the rebuilding process.”

Working closely with Downey as conveners to steer this effort forward are AIA New Orleans President Angela O’Byrne, AIA; AIA Louisiana President Trula Remson, AIA; AIA Louisiana Executive Director Lynn Robertson; and Caitlin Cain, director of Economic Development for the New Orleans Regional Planning Commission and chair of the SDAT steering committee. The group is strengthening this community-based team of local organizations that is established, in place, and ready to go to work as the political dust around the city settles. They will meet again to further their plans during the first week in October.

AIA members deliver architects’ message to public:
In newspapers across the country, AIA members have stressed this specific message:

• Because these facilities will be used for an extended period of time by residents, transitional housing arrangements must be approached with the basic design principles that go into developing a livable community
• Planning to address the immediate needs for shelter must be done in concert with a long-term rebuilding plan to avoid making hasty decisions that will hamstring future efforts
• To maintain viability of local architecture firms, as well as the spirit and character of the affected regions, local architecture firms should be subcontracted by the large companies awarded rebuilding contracts by the federal government.

Some examples are:

• “Don’t Botch This Chance to Rebuild, Group Warns,” Times-Picayune, September 30. (Quotes AIA New Orleans President Angela O’Byrne, AIA; AIA Executive Vice President/CEP Norman L. Koonce, FAIA; and AIA Chief Operating Officer Jim Dinegar about the need for strategic planning.) Visit the Times-Picayune Web Site and search for September 30’s Page A-24.
• “Historic Trust Rallies to Preserve Damaged New Orleans Buildings,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, September 21 (AIA legislative agenda highlighted).
• “Rebuilding a City,” The New York Times News Service, appearing in the Monterey Herald. (New Orleans’ Steve Dumez, AIA; AIA New Orleans President Angela O’Byrne, AIA; AIA Louisiana President Trula Remson, AIA; and Dan Williams, FAIA, address rebuilding New Orleans.)
• “Filling a Desperate Need for Shelters Begins with Cruise Ships and Proposals,” The New York Times, September 15. (Quotes AIA Center for Livable Communities Managing Director David Downey, AIA. Log-in required.

Additionally, AIA Executive Vice President/CEO Norman L. Koonce, FAIA, took the message of the value of AIA architects to national television in recent days. On September 25, he explained to Fox Weekend Live anchor Brian Wilson that teams of AIA architects are ready to provide damage analysis to hurricane victims in the Gulf region because architects are well-suited to see what damage there is, how it might have happened, and what steps homeowners will need to take to rehabilitate their homes, if possible.

Damage assessments waiting to begin in Mississippi: Last week, a team, including AIA national component Managing Director of Component Relations Brenda Henderson, Hon. AIA, and Project Manager of Communities by Design Daniel Lobo, traveled to Mississippi to assist AIA Mississippi—including President Ann Somers, AIA, and Executive Director Donna Murray—with the implementation of the chapter’s Disaster Building Assistance Program. Under the direction of Charles Harper, FAIA, the group conducted two very successful training sessions—one for 40 people and the other for 50—in Jackson. Somers and Lobo addressed two local TV stations to explain the AIA’s role and the work under way.

The group also toured the Biloxi-Gulfport area, one of the most affected areas by the storm surge. Harper conducted another building assessment training session for 20 professionals in the new offices of Guild Hardy Architects in Gulfport. As part of the training, Joseph Crain, AIA, served as their guide of Gorenflo Elementary School in Biloxi. Crain also led a site visit to the construction site of the Ohr-O'Keefe Museum of Art (pictured), designed by Gehry Associates with Guild Hardy as the architect of record. Although the construction withstood the damage better than its surroundings, almost all the completed work will need to be done again.

In addition to training more than 100 architects, the AIA continues with FEMA and community groups to set up and staff “one-stop centers” for building assessments, which could begin as early as October 1, pending an executive order from the governor granting temporary “Good Samaritan” status for architects.

Help Find These 53 Architects!: The AIA national component and AIA Louisiana continue efforts to locate all Gulf-Coast architects with displaced practices and to date have found 307 out of 360. To the right are the names of the remaining 53 (and 34 firms). Can you help?

NCARB will assist record holders, ARE candidates in hurricane-struck areas: NCARB will assist all record holders in their needs for replacement of lost documentation and work with affected member boards on credential transmittals for reciprocity. NCARB also is waiving some fees for architects in affected areas. Visit the NCARB Web site for details. Also, the Texas Board of Architectural Examiners reports that the state will expedite reciprocity requests for displaced architects and is also waiving the normal application fee. Visit their Web site or call 512-305-9000 for more information.

Rita adds to woes: Hurricane Rita compounded the Gulf Region’s misery and redoubled emergency and relief efforts.

The efforts to aid architects displaced by Hurricane Rita “are a continuation of what we were doing for Katrina victims,” says AIA Houston Executive Director Barrie Scardino. “We’re trying to get people information and coordinate a response. The damage from Rita was horrible in the area that was hit, but Texas was far less affected than it could have been.” The people in Beaumont don’t have power, but they do have water, reports AIA Fort Worth Executive Director Suzie S. Adams, Hon. AIA. “Hopefully our architect friends in that area will be back up and running soon,” she said. Among the aid Texas architects are providing those affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita include work-available Web sites (both the Dallas and Fort Worth components) and donations of money and the purchasing of computer equipment.

AIA continues helping displaced architects with donated equipment: To help architects who have lost their offices during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the AIA has arranged with Dell and Apple to provide computers and peripherals at cost for you to sponsor. The AIA is working with Autodesk, Bentley Systems, Grafisoft, MASTERSPEC, and AIA Contract Documents to provide needed software as well. A considerable quantity of equipment has already been shipped to AIA Louisiana in Baton Rouge for distribution in cooperation with the affected local components. The national component is working through the affected local AIA components to identify the architects who need these tools to maintain their commitments to clients, colleagues, coworkers, and, most importantly, their communities. “On behalf of the AIA family in Louisiana, I would like to express my gratitude to all of our colleagues across the country who have offered their offices, homes, support, and prayers,” says AIA Louisiana President Trula Remson, AIA.

“Everything is going very well at this point, everyone is very, very appreciative,” says AIA Louisiana Executive Director Lynn Robertson, who reports that about half of the desktop and laptop computers donated so far have already been picked up. “I think the word’s gotten out. We wanted to make sure that everybody had the opportunity before we doled it all out.” The state component will be calling recipients of equipment and reporting back on what she says is deep gratitude to colleagues across the country for their help.

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