Architects and the Future of Post-Disaster Temporary Housing

About the live course

National Preparedness Month is a reminder that effective disaster response begins long before the storm. This webinar explores the proactive role architects can play in developing temporary housing solutions that are ready to deploy when communities need them most.

Rather than waiting for a catastrophe to drive action, this session explores how AIA chapters and their members can prepare before disasters and support communities through recovery afterward. Attendees will examine the frameworks, partnerships, and pre-approved design strategies that can help communities deploy housing and other solutions quickly and effectively when disaster strikes. From modular construction approaches that can scale rapidly in the wake of a disaster, to planning efforts that bring together universities and local emergency management agencies, the session will highlight what effective preparation looks like—and why it matters. Attendees will also gain insight into how design professionals can help communities navigate deployment, response, and recovery in the aftermath.

The conversation also broadens beyond the post-disaster context to examine the intersection of emergency housing and the ongoing housing crisis, including how temporary solutions can sometimes become permanent ones, and how architects can advocate for and support their communities year-round.

• Explain the importance of pre-disaster planning for temporary housing and identify the roles that AIA chapters, state disaster coordinators, and advocacy staff and volunteers can play in building rapid response frameworks.
• Identify temporary housing design approaches—including modular and adaptable solutions—and evaluate how they can be deployed quickly and effectively in the wake of a disaster.
• Describe strategies for building partnerships with universities, local emergency management agencies, and community stakeholders to develop actionable housing response plans before disaster strikes.
• Recognize the connection between post-disaster housing response and the broader housing crisis, including opportunities for architects to advocate for and support unhoused individuals beyond the emergency context.

Presented in partnership with the Resilience and Disaster Response Committee (RADR).

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