Date: June 7, 2010
Start Time: 10:00am
End Time: 11:15am
Attendees:
Schendy Kernizan – Architecture for Humanity
Lyndia Mesidor – Architecture for Humanity
Tommy Stewart– Architecture for Humanity
Nate - Hands On
Jacques Louis – STEP School
Overview
Churches Helping Churches alongside STEP (Séminaire de Théologie Évangelique de Port-Au-Prince) school, reached out to Architecture for Humanity to conduct a site assessment on their campus for a building destroyed by the earthquake. School is located in Bolosse neighborhood, located two miles away from Port-Au-Prince. (18 31’ 30.64” N, 72 21’04.37”W)
STEP school of Theology is a 4 year program where the students graduate with a Bachelor or license in Theology. There are about 35 staff members and each year has an average of 30-40 students. Classes run from 3pm – 7pm; during the day the facility is used as a meeting space for community planning and activities. According to the Administrator, Mr. Jacques Louis, electricity is fairly common; a generator is available and has the site has access to potable water.
Physical Description:
The original school structure which served as the academic building built in 1942, is completely destroyed. The cafeteria, library and chapel are the only structures left on campus as part of the school. The basketball court is being prepared to receive a temporary structure that will be used as storage space. The site measures approximately 100 feet X 150 feet. It is fairly flat and covered with rubble. The site is encased by vegetation on the perimeter and only one side of the perimeter consist of a CMU wall which separates the campus from a residential neighborhood. The wall does give access to pedestrian traffic.
Recommendations:
-Design a new facility for four classrooms
-New administration offices
-Cafeteria to accommodate approximately 200 students, faculty, and staff
-Design Parking spaces
-Improvement of retaining wall
Challenges:
The roads are fairly narrow and filled with debris. Getting materials transported to the site may be difficult.
The amount of students attending school may or may not fluctuate significantly because of the rebuilding process.
