ConstructConnect, The American Institute of Architects (AIA), Hanley Wood Media collaborate to renovate women’s substance abuse treatment and recovery center
HOUSTON, September 26, 2018 – The Santa Maria Hostel, a women’s substance abuse treatment and recovery center, has been chosen as the recipient of AEC Cares’ eighth annual ProjectHouston, taking place all day Oct. 5 at 2005 Jacqueline Dr. in the Spring Branch area of Houston. Renovations, both indoors and outdoors, will be done by more than 150 volunteers starting at 7:30 a.m., with Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, Councilmember David Robinson, FAIA, and other community dignitaries speaking from noon – 1 p.m.
The Santa Maria Hostel is one of Texas’ largest multi-site residential and outpatient treatment centers, serving more than 4,640 individuals in 2017 for addictions, homelessness, incarceration, abuse and other traumas. Its mission is to empower women and their families to lead healthy, productive and self-fulfilling lives.
“AEC Cares projectHouston is an ideal opportunity for us to work with talented professionals to re-design and renovate our location so that we can give our residents a beautiful, functional space in which to begin their recovery journey,” says Nadine Scamp, Santa Maria Hostel CEO.
Several companies, including On Center Software, YKK AP, USG, Vinyl Institute, Walter P Moore and Formica have made significant contributions to help renovate the Santa Maria Hostel in Houston. Included in the projectHouston renovation are outdoor green spaces, the playground area, the dining room and two group counseling rooms.
ConstructConnect, one of the leading providers of construction information in North America, AIA and Hanley Wood Media have joined forces the past eight years for the AEC Cares’ Blitz Build, an annual building project that provides community support for worthwhile projects across the United States.
“ConstructConnect is proud of the more than $2.5 million worth of renovations that AEC Cares has contributed to underserved communities throughout the United States over the past seven years,” explains Laura Marlow, ConstructConnect vice president of strategic partnerships and AEC Cares executive director. “We’re looking forward to rolling up our sleeves with local architects, engineers, general contractors, product manufacturers and other volunteers to renovate the Santa Maria Hostel in Houston. Together, we’ll help to give these women and their children a more aesthetically appealing environment in which to build a better life.”
Past AEC Cares projects include:
- New Orleans (2011) – Rebuilt five homes devastated by Hurricane Katrina
- Washington D. C. (2012) – Revitalized the training center at Sasha Bruce YouthWorks
- Denver (2013) – Renovated more than $250,000 of improvements to a veterans’ homeless shelter
- Chicago (2014) – Transformed a 30-year-old former school into a low-income, early-learning center
- Atlanta (2015) – Renovated a shelter dedicated to homeless and runaway youths
- Philadelphia (2016) – Revitalized several rooms at the Philadelphia Athletic Recreation Center
- Orlando (2017) – Upgraded several areas in the women’s center at the Coalition for the Homeless
Additional projectHouston sponsors this year include Andersen, MAPEI, Assemble Systems, DesignIntelligence and Wells & Kimich, Inc. Members of the pro bono team includes designers and general contractors from Kirksey Architecture, LBK Architecture, Terralab Landscape Architects, Rivers Barden Architecture, Powers Brown Architecture, and D E Harvey Builders.
To sponsor the AEC Cares project or to find additional information, visit aeccares.com.
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About ConstructConnect
ConstructConnect is a leading provider of construction information and technology solutions in North America and is committed to transforming the way the construction industry does business by providing its customers the tools, information and connections needed to drive their success. ConstructConnect brings the construction industry together with the most complete, accurate and actionable construction data and tools to drive success in national, regional and local markets. For more information, visit constructconnect.com.
About AEC Cares
AEC Cares is a 501c3 not-for-profit corporation actively supported by ConstructConnect with the AIA and Hanley Wood, generous sponsors, donors, and volunteers. Bringing together architects, contractors, manufacturers and industry professionals from across the United States and Canada, AEC Cares works to create positive change through meaningful projects that benefit a new community every year. To learn more about AEC Cares, visit aeccares.com.
Dropbox link to photos here.
Photo caption: Volunteers work on the Blitz Build project in Orlando in 2017. Santa Maria Hostel in Houston was chosen for renovations in 2018. Photos courtesy of AEC Cares.