STORM STATION
These freestanding modules are designed for various functions featuring rainwater filtration for drinking water, communal handwashing, and sanitation, and solar energy generation for mobile charging and communications, medical first aid, and Covid-19 testing/vaccination. The design intent of the Storm Station project is to provide a Do It Yourself (DIY) approach to building that can empower communities to develop resources that are critical to sustaining well-being and human life. To this end, we work with local organizations or community groups who install the Stations hand-in-hand with our team and who are committed to their long-term maintenance, security, and public access. Storm Stations are available for replication in post-disaster sites and/or those suffering from unreliable infrastructures and social injustice.
The stations are flexible and multipurpose, acting alone or scaled up in concert with multiple modules and types. Modules are interchangeable to suit varying budgets and needs. In times of disaster, the vibrant public spaces that these modules create can act as central gathering locations for relief and aid, equipped with supporting infrastructure for energy, water, and communications. Each project site is also tailored to its context in order to maximize its everyday use as a recognized community landmark. In partnership with local stakeholders, we develop programming and curricula to support the use of Storm Station sites as outdoor classrooms, vocational training sites, outdoor theaters, satellite health clinics, cyber café and co-working spaces, mobile money transaction spots, relief aid drops -- the possibilities are endless!
Constructed with simple tools, a wood frame, and concrete block foundation, the stations are economical and durable, withstanding storms and other natural events. Canvas panels allow communities to make the project their own with locally commissioned art and colorful murals. Custom design modifications are offered to adapt to locally available off-the-shelf materials, construction methods, available technologies, and environmental conditions such that the project can be replicated anywhere globally.
Each station site is equipped with solar powered lighting, security camera, wide area networking with low power radio communications for mesh networking connectivity and emergency alert data, local weather sensors, interactive education graphic displays, phone app integration for performance monitoring, and cloud-based remote data collection and analysis, and mapping/linking with other storm station sites as a disaster monitoring network.
Storm Stations have been designed after extensive on-the-ground research and travel to disaster sites. We continue to engage communities in feedback loops so that improvements and adaptations are made to meet unforseen needs and challenges. Additional Storm Station module type designs are underway including ones that offer composting and recycling infrastructure.
2021 Presentation at the UIA RIO 27th World Congress of the International
Union of Architects: published in conference proceedings
2021 Exhibited at the 17th Venice Architecture Biennial, Italian Pavilion
2020 NYIT sLAB grant
National recognition and press received.
STATUS: Built in Puerto Rico; Replication at various sites underway
Special thanks to the many students and local residents that volunteered time to help build our first storm stations for the community!
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