Hurricane Katrina this past week was certainly the worst episode in what has become an all-too-familiar and tragic cycle, and our nation is now faced with a set of unprecedented challenges. - Former Rep. Jo Bonner

When Hurricane Katrina made landfall in southeastern Louisiana on August 29, 2005, it made history as one of the most destructive storms to hit the United States. This semester, during the ten year anniversary of the storm, students will investigate architecture as a force of compassion and hope. Coursework will focus on the city of New Orleans and its Lower Ninth Ward neighborhood -- a group of people still suffering from the devastating effects of Katrina. To honor those who endured the hurricane and those who worked so hard in rescue and recovery efforts, students will work on a series of projects designed to investigate the process of rebuilding communities from a natural disaster.  Students will conduct research specific to New Orleans and the events of Hurricane Katrina that will inform their design solutions.  Topics this semester will include:

• Rebuilding of urban communities
• Urban analysis and planning
• Data, demographics, and mapping in architecture
• Vernacular architecture and culture
• Portable/Temporary architecture
• Sustainable and affordable design
• Designing for community health

Projects developed through these topics will include disaster shelters, affordable urban housing, community service structures, and community infrastructure.  The semester will culminate with an exhibition of student work that will highlight their ideas and design solutions for the residents of the Lower Ninth Ward.

Make no mistake, this is an issue of social justice, and a responsibility exists to right this wrong - Actor Brad Pitt