Climate change degrades buildings slowly but steadily

While natural disasters such as hurricanes and wildfires can destroy buildings in minutes, other factors exacerbated by climate change degrade buildings more slowly but still cause costly damage.

Resiliency

U.S. is reducing floodplain development in most areas

The perception that the U.S. has not been able to curb development in flood-prone areas is mostly inaccurate, according to new research from climate adaptation experts. A national survey of floodplain development between 2001 and 2019 found that fewer structures were built in floodplains than might be expected if cities were building at random.

Resiliency

Phius introduces retrofit standard for more resilient buildings

Phius recently released, REVIVE 2024, a retrofit standard for more resilient buildings. The standard focuses on resilience against grid outages by ensuring structures remain habitable for at least a week during extreme weather events.

Resiliency

Austin area evacuation center will double as events venue

A new 45,000 sf FEMA-operated evacuation shelter in the Greater Austin metropolitan area will begin construction this fall. The center will be available to house people in the event of a disaster such as a major hurricane and double as an events venue when not needed for emergency shelter.

Codes and Standards | May 30, 2017

Florida preparing to adjust to new building elevation requirements

New floodplain maps and state code changes loom.

Codes and Standards | Apr 5, 2017

Updated AIA Disaster Assistance Handbook released with significant enhancements

Updates provide guidance on how design and construction pros and emergency managers can work together to prepare for and respond to disasters.

Codes and Standards | Jan 31, 2017

Planning for world’s first floating city underway

New approach to resiliency examined in French Polynesia.

Sustainability | Jan 24, 2017

From an industrial park to an eco-neighborhood in Brussels, Belgium

At the heart of Vincent Callebaut Architectures’ eco-neighborhood will be three 100-meter-tall Vertical Forests.

Resiliency | Nov 3, 2016

Future-proofing urban waterfronts

CallisonRTKL’s Nathan Cherry discusses hurricanes, the San Francisco waterfront, and how we can future-proof our urban waterfronts.

Resiliency | Oct 5, 2016

San Francisco’s 181 Fremont will become the most earthquake-resilient building on the West Coast

The building has achieved REDi Gold Rating, resilience-based design guidelines developed by Arup that establish a new benchmark for seismic construction.