Programmatic needs were developed with community input and based on field research conducted when Gandhi visited Puerto Rico this Spring. The team saw the damage firsthand, engaged with local residents to understand the challenges, and even got their hands dirty and volunteered with TECHO to build homes for a community in need.

The design features a kit-of-parts interchangeable panel system for varying uses along with equipment for off-grid energy, water collection and communications. The system adds onto the container without significant modifications to the container itself. This maintains its structure and integrity as a weatherproof container so that relief goods can be transported to the site along with the center itself. A prototype will be built this year and with proper arrangements with local community partners and relief agencies, the goal is to replicate and have multiple cores in place around the island.

In collaboration with Omayra Rivera Crespo, Yazmin Crespo and Matthew Krajewski

STATUS: Design Development in progress

Special thanks to the NYIT and UF students that led conceptual design during the 2018 Puerto Rico Re_Start International Workshop held in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico.

2018 “Puerto Rico Emergency Shelter and Cores” Paper Presentation, ACSA/COAM International Conference: New Instrumentalities | Madrid, Spain: June 2018

2018 sLAB grant received for design development

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