Cannon Design, an internationally recognized architectural,
engineering, interior design and planning firm, is pleased to report that a team of architects recently made time to travel to Joplin, Missouri for an assignment with Rebuild Joplin.
The mission of Rebuild Joplin is to deliver a dependable and trusted resource for people affected by the storm and those who wish to help. Rebuild Joplin’s projects are all construction-related, ranging from small repairs to brand-new houses. The organization coordinates volunteers with other community organizations, also addressing needs of those who may have been overlooked to focus on disaster relief.
Led by a resident of Oakville, Natalie R. Petzoldt , AIA, LEED, EDAC, the Cannon Design team was dispatched to the home of “Tiffany,” the mother of two children. At the time of the May 2011 tornado, she owned two houses. When her home in the path of the storm was wiped out and demolished, she would have had to move into her second house, built in the 1920s and previously scheduled for
renovation. Hence, Tiffany had no home.
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The Cannon Design team was directed by an “on the ground” project manager, one of the many Americorps volunteers assigned to the city of Joplin to aid with disaster relief. Her job was to oversee daily tasks and guide the professional volunteers.
“Since most of Joplin’s house foundations are made of stone, many homes, including this one, needed jacking up,” explains Petzoldt. “We also had to tear off all
three wrap-around porches and deal with water and termite damage.”
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Reflecting on the experience, which was her second trip to Joplin, Petzoldt says, “The area still looks strikingly bare, but you also see all of the new construction happening. I think the best part of the experience is that it doesn’t matter who is there or what their title is, everyone just jumps in to get the work done. We get dirty and have a good time. It’s all about team work.”
Cannon Design is an Ideas Based Practice, ranked among
the leading international firms in planning and design for healthcare, research, education, corporate, sports and government clients. At present, the firm employs a staff of over 1,000, delivering services in 12 offices throughout North America, as well as in Shanghai, China, and Mumbai,
India. www.cannondesign.com