by: Benjamin Prosky
As we learn more about Hurricane Harvey’s devastating effects on Houston and beyond, AIANY members and our extended community may wonder what they can do to help.
Throughout the storm and in the aftermath, we were in touch with our colleagues at AIA Houston. Sadly, we found out that Hurricane Harvey delivered more than four feet of water and almost total devastation to the Architecture Center Houston, a new space under construction in the historic B.A. Riesner Building in the city’s downtown. The project, led by Houston-based practice Murphy Mears Architects, was just three weeks from completion when the storm hit. Unfortunately, flood mitigation systems had not yet been fully installed.
Typical building insurance does not cover flood damage. The risk policy carried by the contractor will cover some of the expenses, but has a $250,000 deductible. To help defray some of these costs, AIA Houston has set up a GoFundMe page and has asked AIA chapters around the country to share this information with their memberships.
All donations will be acknowledged on a special donor wall inside the new center. Donations are tax deductible and will go to the Architecture Center Houston Foundation, a 501(c)3 charitable institution whose mission is to educate the public on issues of architecture, urbanism, and design.
Funds raised in excess of Architecture Center Houston’s needs will be directed to the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund, set up by the City of Houston to help victims of the flood.
To see how else AIA is responding to Harvey, visit the AIA Disaster Assistance Programs Harvey Updates page. More news is forthcoming on how our AIANY and Center for Architecture boards will further support our colleague’s recovery efforts.
In the meantime, I hope you will join me personally in efforts to help our extended AIA Community in Houston recover and rebuild.