Mack McClendon
Before Katrina:
Mack has lived in New Orleans practically his whole life. Right out of high
school, he moved into his first apartment in the lower Ninth Ward. After working
at a phone company for 11 years, he fell off a ladder which damaged two disks in
his lower back. Since he couldn’t work anymore, he needed to find something to
occupy his time. He always enjoyed antique cars and his injury allowed him to
start a new hobby. In the months before the hurricane hit, he had restored 14
antique cars. But then, Katrina took them all away.
school, he moved into his first apartment in the lower Ninth Ward. After working
at a phone company for 11 years, he fell off a ladder which damaged two disks in
his lower back. Since he couldn’t work anymore, he needed to find something to
occupy his time. He always enjoyed antique cars and his injury allowed him to
start a new hobby. In the months before the hurricane hit, he had restored 14
antique cars. But then, Katrina took them all away.
After Katrina:
After months of recovering from the hurricane, he got back into restoring
his cars. On his way to a mechanic shop, he drove past an old airplane hangar
every day. Before Katrina, he could never afford the building, but the damage to
it lowed the price. He bought the building with the intent on making it a shop
for his car. After walking into the building for the first time, he decided to
turn it into a community center.
The community center now contains a gymnasium, job training programs (recording studio, culinary area,
and computer labs) for the youth, free meals for the homeless and more.
Volunteers from all over the nation stay in cots that are located in the
community center. The students that go to the Village cleared out more than 100
vacant lots in the Lower 9th Ward over their spring break.
his cars. On his way to a mechanic shop, he drove past an old airplane hangar
every day. Before Katrina, he could never afford the building, but the damage to
it lowed the price. He bought the building with the intent on making it a shop
for his car. After walking into the building for the first time, he decided to
turn it into a community center.
The community center now contains a gymnasium, job training programs (recording studio, culinary area,
and computer labs) for the youth, free meals for the homeless and more.
Volunteers from all over the nation stay in cots that are located in the
community center. The students that go to the Village cleared out more than 100
vacant lots in the Lower 9th Ward over their spring break.
Design Solution
