Architects & Hurricane Sandy

Blog Entry #1

In the wake of the latest natural disaster in the United States, will architects realize the golden opportunity to make their profession invaluable to the greater population?  Architects arguably hold the reputation as being a service that only the elite and rich can afford. It does not and should not be this way.

In the last housing boom, many successful and progressively minded architects ventured into prefabricated housing businesses.  Some realized untapped markets and drew media attention that made them quasi famous.  The great recession unpleasantly burst their bubble too.

In my humble observation, the now frequent large natural disasters that this country continually encounters since Hurricane Katrina in 2005 present an extraordinary opportunity for everyone.  The home building industry from architects to carpet installers will be summoned on emergency notice to provide their services.  Why not be proactive?

Architects can venture into business models where designs for prefabricated houses, whether they be single family or high rise, stand ready for immediate production and delivery in the wake of natural disasters or any surge in the need of well built, environmentally sensitive housing.  The benefits are tremendous for communities to revitalize in a sensitive and progressive fashion with the proactive planning by talented architects, efficient home building companies and sub contractors.  Survivors of such circumstances will heal more quickly and lives will return to normal with less trauma.

Let us not wait.  We have seen several hurricanes, hundreds of destructive tornadoes, and wild fires consume property and lives at alarmingly record rates.  Never mind the issue of global warming, for the reason alone that our planet is vastly more populated and built than just 50 years ago we risk massive property loss in all areas of the country relying on statistics alone.  Imagine a very large earthquake in Southern California.  It is inevitable.

My plea is to pay attention and be prepared but also to turn misfortune into opportunity.