UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SCHOOL OF ARCHITECURE'S LEADERSHIP IN HAITI CHARETTE
FOLLOWING DEVASTATING EARTHQUAKE STRENGTHENS TIES AND LONGTERM
COMMITTMENT TO HELP REBUILD NEIGHBORING NATION IN NEED
By Steve Wright
"There were a multitude of symposiums, lots of organizations collecting money, some self-proclaimed experts making proposals to build garden sheds as homes for homeless people in Haiti," Mangones recalled. "I did a presentation in February, then I came in contact with Lizz (School of Architecture Dean Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk), who said the government had asked UM to get involved -- exact subject unknown."
Mangones, who had recently become more involved in the Haitian-American Community, helping with beautiful facade designs that were built in Miami's Little Haiti, put his full faith in the University of Miami School of Architecture.
The resulting Haiti Charrette, a five-day event in March to address post-earthquake planning hosted by UM at the request of the Haitian government’s Commission for Reconstruction was as soothing to the soul as the quake was devastating to Mangones and his family.
The collaborative workshop provided a forum for Haitian architects, planners and engineers to work with University of Miami faculty and students and design professionals from the Haitian community in Miami.
Mangones was the team captain of the Cultural Heritage group. The Miami Committee was composed entirely of School of Architecture faculty and staff including Dean Plater-Zyblerk,
Sonia Chao, Director, Center for Urban & Community Design; Denis Hector, Associate Dean; and
Lamar Noriega, Director of Development.
Wright has contributed thousands of stories about town planning, architecture, urban recovery and transportation. Contact the Miami-based writer-photographer at stevewright64@yahoo.com
TOMORROW: PART 3
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