Volunteers should be:

• architect or designer with ATC training (or other relevant experience).  See below for info on training opportunity.
• or structural engineer
• and ready to rough it

We’re anticipating the next team will be in Haiti the first half of July and the third team for the second half of July.
We are collecting donations to help offset costs for the teams, though be prepared to cover your travel expenses and minimal cost for lodging and food upfront, since it is unknown how much we will be able to raise.

If you may be interested in joining the team please contact:
Rachel Minnery: rminnery@gmail.com (architects)
Scott Douglas: sdouglas@dci-engineers.com (engineers)

Thank you! From the disaster coalition of Architects Without Borders-Seattle, SEAW Disaster Response, and the AIA

HAVEN’T DONE THE TRAINING?: We’ve established a special training day for ATC-20 Post-earthquake Safety Evaluation of Buildings on 6/18; 12:30-4:30pm with Behrooz Emam. Register here: http://www.aiaseattle.org/node/4399

OTHER WAYS TO HELP:

• If you can’t join the team, but would like to support the cause, your donation is greatly appreciated:
  http://awb-seattle.org/haiti-rebuilding-effort/
• If you or someone you know is interested in volunteering in a general capacity, see the link to Hands On Disaster Response: http://hodr.org/volunteer-info/project-leogane-volunteer-info/

• architects or designers with ATC training (or other relevant experience)
• structural enginel volunteers

At this time, general volunteers are not needed.

We’d like to see a group of design professionals from the Seattle area team together for a 1-2 week volunteer trip.  Anticipate departing no later than May 1.  There may be some monetary and organizational support for the team, though be prepared to cover your own travel expenses to and from Leogane.  Most questions about volunteering in Leogane can be found on this web page – http://hodr.org/volunteer-info/project-leogane-volunteer-info/

If you are interested, and have read through the information in the link above…. and are still interested, please contact either:

Rachel Minnery: rminnery@gmail.com (architects)
Scott Douglas: sdouglas@dci-engineers.com (engineers)

From the disaster coalition of AIA and SEAW Disaster Response, Architects Without Borders-Seattle

Other links of interest:
See this excellent article on the Chile earthquake and Seattle connection: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/28/opinion/28yanev.html?scp=1&sq=yanev&st=cse
See also reports on Haiti and Chile:
http://www.crew.org/index.html

Habitat for Humanity is starting to look for architects and engineers with relevant skills to start organizing for the next phase of the recovery process in Haiti. You can find and share information about this opportunity at: http://www.habitat.org/ivp/apply_now.aspx

Hurricane Katrina remains the single most destructive impact on our country’s cultural heritage since the Civil War.

As preservationists, we share a common love for the built environment and for all the rich and diverse cultural heritage stories that go along with it. Many of us have been involved in battles to save a piece of architectural heritage that we personally hold dear; most of us have also felt the painful sting of battles that have been lost.

Over the last few years, I have taken a group of preservation-minded volunteers to work in the Ninth Ward in New Orleans with the goal of helping that community preserve, protect, and reuse the thousands of homes that were damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. Now, over four years later, the immense needs of that community remain. I have personally witnessed a slow rebirth of one of the toughest areas in America (the city’s Holy Cross neighborhood), and all of those who have traveled with me previously to New Orleans have a lot to be proud of. We’ve experienced firsthand the power of community to overcome overwhelming odds. We’ve witnessed the grace of a devastated community and their determination to move forward. We’ve also all been touched by the outpouring of gratitude from everyone in New Orleans – not just those directly impacted by the disaster.

Hurricane Katrina remains the single most destructive impact on our country’s cultural heritage since the Civil War. While it’s easy to ignore the work that needs to be done when the story is no longer on the front page, it doesn’t relieve any of us of our obligation to assist in rebuilding that city.

Our group of volunteers from September 2009.

The rebuilding of the Lower Ninth Ward remains an opportunity that you can participate in. I will again lead a team of volunteers down to New Orleans to work on three houses in the Holy Cross neighborhood, this year between April 5th and April 9th. We welcome all talented people to join us, from those who have strong carpentry skills to those who can push a broom, deconstruct, or paint. Everyone is welcome and needed.

While the costs of travel and accommodations are borne by each volunteer, we can assist in finding inexpensive lodging and/or potential roommates.

As all who have gone before will attest, it is a rewarding experience that will stay with you throughout the remainder of your life.

For more information, please contact me at kevin.daniels@nsco.com. Also, click here to learn more about the National Trust’s ongoing Gulf Coast recovery efforts.

Kevin Daniels is a preservationist and developer in Seattle, Washington. He currently serves on the National Trust’s Board of Trustees as vice chair of the Preservation Committee.

Volunteer Architect, Liberia

Overview:

Following 14 years of civil war (1989-2003), Liberia’s healthcare system was devastated. Severe shortages of drugs, supplies, qualified clinicians and adequate facilities left most Liberians with little or no access to primary healthcare services. Under the leadership of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (2005), the health sector has made important strides including the completion of a National Health Policy and National Health Plan (2007-2011), which outlines the objectives, strategies and resources to reform the health sector to effectively deliver health and social welfare services to the people of Liberia. The operational and integrated framework for implementing the National Health Plan (NHP) is based on four key components:
(1) The Basic Package of Health Services (BPHS); (2)
Human Resources for Health;
(3) Infrastructure Development; and (4) Support Systems.

Key to implementing the NHP, Infrastructure Development’s goal is to increase geographic
access to the BPHS through the consolidation of services, major rehabilitation and construction.
Due to numerous challenges such as funding, management, limited materials, high costs, etc. the
Infrastructure Unit has had significant challenges in trying to meet this goal and more specifically
the PRS target of 205 rehabilitated facilities.
Since 2007, CHAI-Liberia has supported MOHSW in each of the four NHP components with a
strong focus on expanding access to quality HIV care and treatment services.

CHAI-Liberia seeks an experienced architect/construction manager with strong project
management experience to work with the MOHSW Infrastructure Unit to (1) develop office and planning systems to improve the Unit’s efficiency and efficacy within the Department of Planning, Research & Development/MOHSW and (2) creatively identify sustainable building solutions to quickly improve the infrastructure and utilities of Liberia’s Government health facilities.

Responsibilities:

• The TA will work out of the Infrastructure Unit Office and report to the CHAI Program Director for Health System Strengthening
• Strengthen/Develop office systems and the department’s operational process: Working closely with all members of the Infrastructure Unit, the TA will identify the current office systems, individual roles and project status. Using this assessment, the TA will mentor the department to develop and implement systems that best utilize individual skill sets and available resources in order to meet clearly defined large and small project targets.
• Mentor department on the creative use of architecture software and design to think about sustainable build solutions: Using architectural and engineering software, creative design and research, the TA will mentor the Unit to identify, plan and implement sustainable build, lighting and waste management solutions for clinics, health centers and hospitals and where applicable draft MOHSW policy (e.g., an energy policy for health facility builds).
• Strengthen planning to meet PRS and long-term goals: The TA will help the department identify, document and cost its current project implementation status. From which, the TA will work with the department to identify a detailed workplan to meet its targets for rehabilitation and new construction; forecast costs and work with the department to mobilize funding. Additionally, the TA will help the department to plan and operationalize ongoing small project and repair management (e.g., window replacement, air conditioner installation, roof repairs, etc).

Qualifications:

• Three to five years experience in office management including strategy, planning, forecasting, budgeting, monitoring and evaluation.
• Demonstrated Project or Engineering Management experience from feasibility to completion/evaluation.
• Proficiency in CAD Architecture: Auto CAD, Revit, Data CAD, Home Pro Plan, Archi CAD
• Operation Systems: Mac and Windows OS
• Others: MSOffice (Excel, PowerPoint, Word)

Experience with the following is strongly preferred but not required:

• Health facility design, management & construction
• Construction and maintenance in constrained resource countries
• Renewable energy sources, waste management and sanitation
• Mobilizing donor funding

Given the damaging storms of 2007 and 2008 and the pending risk to the Howard Hansen Dam/ Green River valley this season, December couldn’t be a better time to arm yourself with building performance expertise. Pizza dinner, ATC-45 field manual, and continuing ed credits provided.

Monday December 7, 2009: 4-8pm
Downtown Seattle location to be determined
Instructor: Ed Huston

Register: http://www.aiaseattle.org/node/3640
General Public $60
AIA and SEAW members $45
Jobseekers and Students $30

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Rachel Minnery.

ORA and HyBrid Architects have formed a team that will be working on a Habitat home in Pacific this Saturday September 26, so please consider either making a donation or joining us on site (8:30am-1:00pm), or better yet, both! If you want to participate this Saturday, please sign up on-line to join the ORA/HyBrid team, or email Owen Richards if you want to learn more.

To donate or join the ORA/HyBrid team, please go to: http://www.blueskycollaborative.com/hbat/participantpage.asp?fundid=94&uid=454&fkroledescid=1

If you prefer to write a check please make it payable to Habitat for Humanity and send it to ORA Architects, 1205 E Pike Street #2B Seattle, WA 98122.

Why is this so important? Because only 14% of King County housing is available to households earning below 50% of median income (HDC, 2006).This must change. You can lead the way by sponsoring my volunteer hours with the Habitat for Humanity Build-a-Thon!

If you have any questions or want to talk about participating please give Owen a call at 206 625 0941. If you have any questions about Habitat for Humanity or the Build-a-Thon please visit www.habitatbuildathon.org for more information.

Thanks for your support!

Our task is to develop a schematic design in order to assist them in raising funds for the project. The first phase will consist of developing a package including site planning ideas, sustainable concepts, local construction techniques research, and general programming.

If you are interested in joining the design team, please join us for a kick-off meeting on Tuesday, August 18th at Piecora’s Pizza, 6:30pm. Email Carter Woollen at carter@woollenstudio.com for questions and additional information.

AWB-Seattle Summer Party