Citizen Architect: The Last Responders
FROM RESPONSE TO RECOVERY
About a week ago, my surrounding neighborhood and much of the state were under several feet of water. As I previously wrote, my neighborhood fared well in the storm as we are fortunate to be on “high ground” (at least, high for an island on the coast). The newer neighborhoods, built in low lying lands, were not so lucky. Many of these areas, and many areas in the counties north of Charleston, are still under several feet of water. We are now officially in “recovery” mode from the storm and flooding, but the damage continues to mount. Additional rain this weekend added to swollen rivers triggering more flooding and evacuations. The current estimates seem to indicate that much of the standing water will be around for another 7-9 days.
I am a member of the South Carolina Chapter of the American Institute of Architects and I am currently serving on the Board of Directors for the Charleston Section. Our monthly board meeting was actually delayed last week due to the storms. When we met this week, we spent the majority of the meeting discussing how the architects in our local community could and should respond to the current needs. Our state chapter has enjoyed a strong relationship with the Red Cross since Hurricane Hugo hit 30 years ago. We are currently encouraging our membership and other community members to coordinate through them and other “first responders” such as the United Way and local food banks. As well intentioned as food and clothing drives organized by workplaces and churches may be, they often are not coordinated with these organizations who are working directly with those in need. This can lead to a surplus of items that go to waste or are of no use to the storm victims. A monetary donation allows the organizations to purchase items locally and gives them flexibility to purchase specific items needed or requested by families. If you do not live in or around affected areas of the state, this is by far the most effective response you can make. Donations can be made online or through the mail.
Architects are professionals licensed to “Protect the Health, Safety, and Welfare of the General Public in the Built Environment” (emphasis mine because it seems more foreboding). Over the years, concerns over liability and a general increase in the specialization of various aspects of building design and construction have led to the profession assuming a role of overall coordination and management on many Design teams. I know many of you reading this are also Architects and you probably have strong opinions about why this is happening and what we need to do about it. We’ll talk about that a little down the road. This reality is especially true in the world of commercial architecture and large projects. Architects still maintain authority over aesthetics and the overall design of the building; we still layout the spaces and decide what goes where, how big it is, what the materials are, etc. We work with Engineers to integrate the various building systems so that the ductwork can run in and around the structure without the need for 7 foot ceilings. We make sure that the layout is easier for visitors to navigate and a pleasant environment to work in. And so on. We are also responsible for making sure that the building is code compliant. This includes addressing the potential flood hazards associated with building in a low-lying coastal environment. We are in the midst of a state wide natural disaster, watching our infrastructure and buildings get inundated with water. So, I found myself sitting with my colleagues asking: What are WE going to do?
In the coming days, Architect from across the state (and likely the surrounding region) will be “deployed” with the SC State Guard to begin the process of assessment and recovery. The first wave of responders will actually be Engineers -specifically Civil and Structural Engineers who have experience with dams and bridges. The latest numbers I have seen indicate that over 13 dams across the state have been breached. As rivers rose, many roads began to collapse and bridges were compromised. Evaluating this infrastructure is critical as these roads represent the supply chain for disaster assistance.
The second wave will include Architects and other professionals with Safety Assessment Program (SAP) training who will evaluate the structures affected by the flooding. They will evaluate the impact to various structures (houses and commercial buildings) and help determine which ones are safe/unsafe for occupation. I do not have this credential, but I am planning to volunteer to help with the effort. Due to the broad level of impact, we are anticipating that demand will far exceed supply as we begin this process. As the various entities involved gear up to start this process, I find myself wondering: Then what? Identifying dangerous structures is one thing; helping someone rebuild their home or business is a first step towards rebuilding their life. Who’s going to do that?
On several occasions, I heard the Co-Founder and former Chief Eternal Optimist (CEO) of Architecture for Humanity, Cameron Sinclair, describe his organization as the “Last Responders” to a disaster. AFH specialized in post-disaster recovery and rebuilding across the globe. Unfortunately, the organization officially closed in January of 2015, but it lives on in various incarnations. Sinclair stressed the importance of the “Last Response” as it is the one that counts the most. At some point, the waters recede, the cameras leave, and news cycle moves on to the next tragedy/ story. This is when the critical work of rebuilding begins. The recent storm has been described as a 1,000 year event; it would be ridiculous to expect a “swift” recovery. We will probably spend the next 5-10 years addressing the impact of lost homes, businesses, and lives to our communities. The recovery and rebuilding process will require a collaborative effort between architects, engineers, planners, civic leaders, and community members. It will be a long and messy process. I look forward to the incredible challenge and opportunity to engage in this effort.
In our culture, we hear about attorneys and doctors working “pro bono” as court appointed attorneys or volunteering in clinics. Many people think that working “pro bono” means working for free, but this is not the complete picture. The latin word for “free” is gratis. Pro Bono is phrase that more closely means “For the Public Good.” For Architects, working Pro Bono means working to address complex social problems in a manner that has a broad, public benefit. It has been suggested that all Architectural projects inherently meet this definition and that all architects are therefore “Citizen Architects.”
I do not believe this is true.
There is repeated evidence that development at all scales, in all communities, tends to benefit certain groups and individuals while impacting others in a negative way. Gentrification displaces communities and erodes cultures. Design covenants lead to expensive buildings that effectively create an economic barrier to entry for lower income residents. Subsidized housing is often placed in the leftover, undesirable areas of a city -such as those most prone to flooding. And on and on. It is unfortunate, but true, that our profession has been complicit in creating and perpetuating a series of social and environmental injustices for decades. It is not fair or accurate to place the blame squarely on any one group. Cities permitted these practices, developers financed them, architects designed them, contractors built them, and communities supported them. It is true that we have a choice as to whether or not we will allow this to continue.
I believe that we are now on the cusp of a cultural shift, both in our profession and the broader national culture, that is beginning to address these issues and gaps in practice. The growing Public Interest Design movement is now an integral part of many schools of architecture around the country. Affordable housing, multi-modal transportation, and mixed-use neighborhoods are no longer seen as experimental, but recognized as vital design approaches for our communities. Here in South Carolina, as we continue the process of recovery from this storm, I hope that design professionals, civic leaders, and community members can engage in a forward-thinking, collaborative process that includes the broad diversity of perspective we currently see in our communities.
I believe that it is my responsibility as a professional to advocate on behalf of those who are typically not invited to the table. I believe that Design is, and should be used as, a tool for Advocacy. As professionals, architects have the opportunity to work “for the public good” in a variety of areas: housing, infrastructure, and public space. We should not only advocate For design, but also advocate With design. This is the work of a Citizen Architect: engaging in the Civic process and working collaboratively to build communities, not just buildings.
This post is part of the #ArchiTalks series in which Bob Borson of Life of an Architect selects a theme and a group of us (architects who also blog) all post on the same day and promote each other’s blogs. This month’s theme is “Citizen Architect.” To read how others interpreted the theme please click the links below…
Bob Borson - Life of An Architect (@bobborson)
Citizen Architect ... Seems Redundant
Jeff Echols - Architect Of The Internet (@Jeff_Echols)
What Does it Mean to be a Citizen Architect?
Lee Calisti, AIA - Think Architect (@LeeCalisti)
small town citizen architect
Lora Teagarden - L² Design, LLC (@L2DesignLLC)
#ArchiTalks: The everyday citizen architect
Jeremiah Russell, AIA - ROGUE Architecture (@rogue_architect)
Citizen Architect: #architalks
Jes Stafford - Modus Operandi Design (@modarchitect)
Architect as Citizen
Eric T. Faulkner - Rock Talk (@wishingrockhome)
My Hero - Citizen Architect
Rosa Sheng - Equity by Design (@EquityxDesign)
We are the Champions - Citizen Architects
Michele Grace Hottel - Michele Grace Hottel, Architect (@mghottel)
Meghana Joshi - IRA Consultants, LLC (@MeghanaIRA)
Meet Jane Doe, Citizen Architect
Stephen Ramos - BUILDINGS ARE COOL (@sramos_BAC)
Help with South Carolina's Recovery Efforts
brady ernst - Soapbox Architect (@bradyernstAIA)
Senior Citizen, Architect
Tara Imani - Tara Imani Designs, LLC (@Parthenon1)
Citizen Starchitect' is not an Oxymoron
Sharon George - Architecture By George (@sharonraigeorge)
Citizen Architect #ArchiTalks
Emily Grandstaff-Rice - Emily Grandstaff-Rice AIA (@egraia)
Citizen of Architecture
Daniel Beck - The Architect's Checklist (@archchecklist)
Protecting the Client - 3 Ways to be a Citizen Architect
Jarod Hall - di'velept (@divelept)
Citizen Developer??
Greg Croft - Sage Leaf Group (@croft_gregory)
Citizen Architect
Courtney Casburn Brett - Casburn Brett (@CasburnBrett)
“Citizen Architect” + Four Other Practice Models Changing Architecture
Jeffrey A Pelletier - Board & Vellum (@boardandvellum)
How Architects Can Be Model Citizens
Samantha Raburn - The Aspiring Architect (@TheAspiringArch)
Inspiring a Citizen Architect
