The Elevated Studio service region:  A regional/county map of the New York City metropolitan region, with The Elevated Studio's Hurricane Sandy region (in red), and where Brian lives (blue dot).

Slide 1	
We need to promote the principles of Universal Design during the first 3-4 months of the disaster’s Relief phase

NOT

Into year 3 or 4 of Recovery.  It is a collaborative process across service areas

Slide 2	
We see a Beautiful Place:
While Sandy was considered a flooding event, there were some home owners that we have helped who experienced wind damage.  This owner had a large oak tree fall on their home.  The picture shows the remainder of the home (in splinters).

Slide 3	
The recent tropical cyclones over the last few years, while not making landfall, had a significant impact:
This image on the left is a partial satellite image of Sandy. 
This image on the right shows the path of each storm as recorded over the last 170 years.

Slide 4	
Lower Manhattan after Sandy:
The image shows a view of Lower Manhattan (looking North) during the aftermath of Sandy.  It shows a blackout area from 30th Street South to Houston Street.
•	80+ US Casualties

•	7.5 million people 
   without power

•	14 feet average storm surge

•	effected 5 million residents

•	$90 billion in losses

•	largest hurricane on record

Slide 5	
In 1958 there were 8 declared disasters, and in 2011 there were 98.  Trends indicate that the number of disasters will continue to climb.

Some look at this and see ties to climate change. Some look at this and see that the federal government is involved more in local affairs than in the past. In reality, most of this increase is attributable to development and population growth. 

We simply have more to lose.

Slide 6	
Where is the Risk?

What are the issues that face us in this region?
	
Aged built environment
	
Aging in place population
	
I want what I want

Slide 7	
Where is the Risk?

Lower left image: shows the statistical information of the percentage of structures damaged by Sandy that were built before 1983
Lower right image: This image is of a residence that was moved off of its foundation by Sandy.  The orange line is the height of the surge.
Upper left and right images: show two houses destroyed by a catastrophic fire in Breezy Point.  This fire destroyed over 100 homes.

Slide 8	
Where is the Risk?
The image  shown a color-coded map showing the counties that comprise the metropolitan region.
Metropolitan Statistical Area
US Rank:  1
Total Population: 20.1MM

Population Increases
60 years or older: 14.1% or
2.8MM

In 2020: Projected 14.8%
In 2030: Projected 18.1%

Slide 9	
Where is the Risk?
I want what I want (and that is…)
My life back
Back in my home
Safety
Security
Accessibility
Basement
A well-built home
To be made whole
To elevate
My home
A garage
More space

Slide 10	
Where are the Holes?  Opportunities?

When do people think about accessibility at the residential level?
            ➔ Once there is an issue (reactive)
           ➔ When someone else tells me to think about it (also reactive)

What do they think about?
         ➔ How am I going to get into my home?
            ➔ Once I’m in, how do I…use the bathroom? Cook? Clean? Move around the house?

Slide 11	
Where are the Holes?  Opportunities?

Lack of education and miss-information 

RESIDENT:  What do they understand?
About themselves?  How do they adapt
to their new world?  How will they  sustain
their life?  How does resilience come into play?

ARCHITECTS: Should be one of the several professionals to 
teach and guide the resident about the opportunities.  
How can the profession be more proactive than being more reactive?  
How frequently does the profession use cost as a deciding factor?  
How often does the profession use design constraints as a rationale for exclusion?

The opportunity to the residence/resident is challenging, 
as both change at a different rate of time.

Slide 12	
Where are the Holes?  Opportunities?
e resolve the accessibility issues when we’re talking about elevating a residence?

The image on the right is an image of MC Escher's sketch "Relativity"

This image on the left is of an accessible stair at a museum in Paris, France.

Slide 13	
Where are the Holes?  Opportunities?

The image shows a series of puzzle pieces that we as design professionals look at while supporting communities recovering from a disaster.

Slide 14	
Where are the Holes?  Opportunities?
The image shows 3 versions of building diagrams that indicate how a community is looked at pre-storm through recovery.  

The top row “Past” shows how a community may be viewed as many structures are susceptible to weather-related damage and are not resilient.

The middle row “Present” shows the same community that has some of the structures still exposed to climate change, while some of the structures have been elevated/modified to mitigate future weather events.

The bottom row “Future” shows that all of the structures in the community have been altered to be resilient.

Slide 15	
Where are the Holes?  Opportunities?

What should we do? 
 
•	Review current population in affected region who have some functional need; 
•	Review building codes and holes to fill;  
•	Work with constituencies to modify codes;  
•	FEMA / HUD “Program in a Box” should require single family housing stock to adapt or be made using U.D. principles.

Slide 16	
When Universal Design meets Elevation
This image is of an existing elevated home in South Carolina

Slide 17	
Universal Design is…
Education   Advocacy   Collaboration

The diagram shows the circular relationship between policy, residents, design professional, and jurisdictions

Slide 18	
Uncoupling the Myths
Myths:  
   Universal design is incredibly expensive. 
   Universal design is only for the mobility disabled. 
   Universal design is hard to make aesthetically pleasing.

Slide 19	
Uncoupling the Myths
Truths:  Implementing Universal design principles during the design phase shows little to now increase in cost over “traditional” construction(~0 - 3%), however less expensive over the life cycle of the building and the tenant.  Universal design is for all.  While mobility challenges can present opportunities, the Americans with Disabilities Act identifies also includes wide range of individuals with constant, chronic or in-remission conditions. (Just because someone is HIV+ and able-bodied, doesn‘t mean that they should be discriminated against in the built environment).  Designing with all people in mind presents a multitude of design opportunities rather than challenges.  It allows the design professional to exercise their design muscle to solve the problem...technically, efficiently, and artistically.

Slide 20	
Universal Design is…
…designing products and spaces so that they can be used by the widest range of people possible. Universal Design evolved from Accessible Design, a design process that addresses the needs of people with disabilities. Universal Design goes further by recognizing that there is a wide spectrum of human abilities. Everybody, even the most able-bodied person, passes through childhood, periods of temporary illness, injury and old age. By designing for this human diversity, we can create things that will be easier for all people to use.

Slide 21	
Universal Design is…
•	Equitable Use: The design is useful and marketable to people with diverse abilities.
•	Flexibility in Use: The design accommodates a wide range of individual preferences and abilities.
•	Simple and Intuitive Use: Use of the design is easy to understand, regardless of the user's experience, knowledge, language skills, or current concentration level.
•	Perceptible Information: The design communicates necessary information effectively to the user, regardless of ambient conditions or the user's sensory abilities.
•	Tolerance for Error: The design minimizes hazards and the adverse consequences of accidental or unintended actions.
•	Low Physical Effort: The design can be used efficiently and comfortably with minimum fatigue.
•	Size and Space for Approach and Use: Appropriate size and space is provided for approach, reach, manipulation, and use regardless of user's body size, posture, or mobility.

Slide 22	
Why is this important?
Depending on which anthropologist path is followed, Sustainability has a pathway

The three components of sustainability are: Social, Economic and Environment

The four components of sustainability:  Natural, Economic, Social, and Political

Slide 23	
Our Strategy
Sustainable
Mitiga[ed]tion
Adapta[ed]tion
Resilience
Timeless

This diagram reflects a residential building section and how SMART design can positively impact the structure.

Slide 24	
Why is this important?

“(today)…Every dollar spent reducing people’s vulnerability to disasters saves around seven dollars in economic losses.  Investing in prevention not only increases the resilience of countries to future disaster, but protects economic growth and other development achievements from being lost in a single catastrophic event.”
 United Nations Development Program

10 years ago, it was 1 in 4.

Slide 25	
Design Like You Give a Damn

The image on the left is of an existing home that has been elevated in Freeport, NY
The image on the right is of a new single-family home that was initiated by a design competition for potential construction around the Rockaway peninusla.

Slide 26	
Case Study #1 – Long Beach, NY

Photograph of front (East) elevation of single family residence

Slide 27	
Case study #1 – 72’-0” long ramp

The lower portion of the ramp connects the street and driveway to the lower level of the home, to a mid-level entry door.  It continues up to a landing for a 90 degree turn

From the turn, the owner continues up the ramp to a rear deck that doubles as the rear entrance to the home.

Slide 28	
Case study #1 – existing plan

The existing main living plan shows the ramp wrapping the north and west elevations of the house, landing at an upper deck.  The accessible bathroom was modified from an original room, but still does not meet the clearances as outlined in the ADA.

Slide 29	
Case study #1 – existing elevations

the diagram shows the north side of the house with the start and mid-landing of the ramp.
The west elevation picks the ramp up from the mid-level landing up to the entrance deck.

Slide 30	
Case study #1 – proposed lower plan
The new lower level shows an accessible parking pad with pathway to the vertical wheelchair lift at the upper left corner (SW) of the plan.

Slide 31	
Case study #1 – proposed first floor plan
This plan shows the new first floor which is for the primary owner of the residence.  The vertical lift connects all three floors.  Coupled with the new plan is a new living/dining and kitchenette.  Additionally, a new fully accessible bathroom and bedroom are included with the buildout.

Slide 32	
Case study #1 – proposed second floor

The plan shows the access to the existing main floor, which has now been elevated up to a finished floor height of 16'-0"  above grade.

Slide 33	
Case study #1 – proposed front

A rendering of the front (East) elevation of the residence.

Slide 34	
Case study #1 – proposed rear

This image shows the proposed rear elevation of the home with an elevated deck to the upper level.

Slide 35	
Case Study #2 – Babylon, NY

This is a picture of the front (east) facade of the single story bungalow home.  The floor is currently 28" above grade.

Slide 36	
Case Study #2

Side view of the southern facade of the home.

Slide 37	
Case study #2 – existing plan

The front of the house (west) is to the left of the page.

Slide 38	
Case study #2 – proposed plan

This diagram shows the house being elevated, with 2 new stairs at the front and rear of the home.  The new vertical wheelchair lift will be installed at the rear entrance of the home.

Slide 39	
Case study #2 – proposed front

The rendering of the NE corner of the home showing the elevation and the new entrance stair.

Slide 40	
Case study #2 – proposed rear

This image shows the house elevated with the new entrance stair.  The location of the vertical wheelchair lift would be in the corner of the house from grade to the upper deck of the stair.

Slide 41	
We see a beautiful place…

The image is of new structures along a coast line that are designed to meet current FEMA 55 standards.  The design was created for a design competition sponsored by the NYIT-student lead Operation Resilient Long Island team.

Slide 42