Earthquakes Dont Kill; Buildings Do: REBUILD HAITI

Bon bagay! The Rebuilding Center works through a flurry of activity at the peak of summer–including several generously-offered (and incredible) video shorts. Enjoy!

School construction
École La Dignité has completed foundations and slab and walls are now going up, while Elie Dubois undergoes demolition. Meanwhile, builders at Montrouis are absorbing techniques for safer building practices as foundations are being dug and sights are set for November 1 completion.

Communities plan communities
The Santo Community Development Plan, with Habitat for Humanity International, moves into its third phase of planning a fully-serviced development for 500 families outside Léogâne. Phase 3 includes finalizing civil works design, housing and sanitation systems, and exploring a  community/sports center and commercial corridor scheme. Nearby residents will be engaged in three additional community charrettes–see below.

Surveys back
The Economic Corridors team is analyzing over 400 business surveys...and the many business owners working to spring back. Review the methodology (pdf) and read some of the business' stories (pdf).

Civic arts initiative seeking artists
The Civic Arts for Haitian Schools RFQ is about to close its application phase–spread the word and let your local contacts know they could have their creation installed on the grounds of a rebuilt school in Haiti. Deadline is fast approaching - see the application for details.

Calling all CAD and BIM maestros
The Center is looking for assistance training new sessions of Haitian professionals in Autocad and Revit software. Sessions last two weeks and comprise of 12-person classes held at the Rebuilding Center, travel and lodging provided by Architecture for Humanity. Contact Sandhya Janardhan for details.

Welcome to the team!
The Rebuilding Center welcomes accountant Nicole Jeanty, construction outreach professionals Lyonel Saintime and Douyon Clotaire and volunteers Ben Gordon, Josh Canez, David Gonzalez and Sven Kalim.

Videos

• Santo Housing Charrette - (3:19) In-house montage of the latest in community-developed planning.
• Save the Children School - (5:30) The NYU Schack Institute-produced short on the Rebuiding Center's completion of Ceverine, filmed last March.
• Students Rebuild Videoconferece highlights - (3:15) En direct de Port-au-Prince–check out this closing exchange between Haitian, North American and British high schoolers talking politics and supporting one another through the recovery.

In the Media

• Taking the First Steps Toward Progress - Design fellow Stacey McMahan's account of the recovering CNIAH - the Haitian institute of architects (Huffington Post, 7/14)

Events
The next Rebuilding Center Meet & Greet is this Friday, July 29. Presenter Cassandre Méhu discusses a new infrastructure design for Rue Métélus and Route de Delmas that will alleviate pedestrian and vehicular traffic. The event kicks off at 5:30 - contact Rolande Augustin for more information.