As reported by Barry and Melody Finnemore in the latest issue of Oregon Architect (an AIA publication distributed to all registered architects in the state), the Oregon chapter of Architects Without Borders and the Portland chapter of Engineers Without Borders (do these two really need to be separate?) are collaborating to design and build a boarding school for 300 students orphaned by last year's Asian tsunami.
The Elalla Boarding School will include student dormitories, classrooms, staff housing, a library, administrative offices and a medical clinic on an 8-acre site on the southern coast of Sri Lanka. The budget is $2.5 million, coming from the nonprofit Asiana Education Development by way of widespread donations - more of which are still needed. The Elala will serve children ranging from 6 months to 18 years of age.
According to the Oregon Architect article, some of the local design professionals involved are: Jessica Napier of KPFF Consulting Engineers, Jean von Bargen of Michael Willis Architects, Jeff McCormick of CH2M Hill, Patrick Donaldson of Communitecture, and Caroline O'Leary of Ankrom Moisan. With a project this size, certainly there are more working behind the scenes - hats off to them all.
And as always, more help is needed. Architects Without Borders held a recruiting meeting in late September, and the chapter is looking for design leads who can commit to six months of work, and other design professionals who can commit for shorter periods.
Comments