Update from the Road

One of the exciting perks of working on the MIR project is being asked to reflect on and talk about what it is that we are doing, not only to people in our community, but to audiences outside of New Orleans. Last Thursday, Make It Right’s Executive Director Tom Darden and I had the opportunity to present the designs, strategies and some discoveries that have emerged after two years of collaboration with architects, builders and residents of the lower 9th ward. We were invited by Roberta Washington to speak at the Center for Architecture in the West Village of New York to a packed room of NY architects and designers. As you can imagine, we responded to a steady stream of questions, but the atmosphere in the room was supportive and inquisitive, with comments having a good balance of compliments and constructive criticism. Of course a large interest in this crowd, and many others we have talked to, was whether the Make It Right model can be implemented in other regions and climates, and so this gave us a great place to share our thoughts on that (which I intend to write about, but that is another blog entry altogether!). All in all, it went amazingly well, and it was a pleasure to partake in sharing and learning process.

Make It Right was asked to give the presentation because it won the Center for Architecture Foundation Award, and so later that evening, Tom and I attended the AIA-NY chapter’s annual Heritage Ball. This outstanding black tie dinner and awards ceremony was held at Chelsea Piers and was attended by what seemed like thousands of architects and designers, which meant lots of interesting twists on black tie apparel, and lots of very stylish glasses! In receiving an award at this event, we were in very good company; Commissioner Adrian Benepe was also honored for his work with New York City parks, and Bob Silman received the chapter award for work restoring the cherished architectural icon, the Frank Lloyd Wright’s Guggenheim Museum.

Finally, Diller Scofidio and Renfro were given the President’s award for their work on the High Line, which is a fascinating conversion project.  DS&R’s team of architects and landscape architects transformed a defunct elevated rail line into a beautifully detailed park and recreation pathway that is already being taken advantage of by hundreds of New Yorkers a day. (I walked the High Line with my nieces the following weekend and it was a fantastic pilgrimage that I would recommend everyone experience).

To be grouped with these architects and engineers who are making transformative moves in the world of design and construction was a great honor for us, and we are excited that the message of our project seems to really be getting out there. We look forward to sharing more information here as well, and hope to hear from you out in the world who are also working to make a difference!

Sarah Stehli Howell moved to New Orleans in July, 2005, just one month before Hurricane Katrina devastated the city.  As a licensed, LEED Accredited architects, she returned to New Orleans after the storm to join the rebuilding effort with John Williams Architects and the Make It Right Foundation. Sarah studied Architecture at Yale University and practiced in California and New York City before moving to New Orleans.  As Project Architect for Make It Right, Sarah is the liaison between the design architects, the builders, and the families who are returning home.  She and her team produce the construction documents for the houses, oversee construction, and manage the LEED Platinum certification process.

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