BSD SpecLink^® Contributes to Katrina Reconstruction

August 29, 2006 is the first anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, one of the most devastating natural disasters to hit the United States. In the year since the hurricane struck Louisiana and Mississippi, a great deal of reconstruction has occurred, but much remains to be done. The city of New Orleans in particular suffered due to widespread flooding, and has undergone what may be a permanent reduction in its population, with more than 250,000 former residents now living elsewhere.

Like many businesses, architecture and engineering firms across Louisiana and Mississippi have been adversely affected. Some no longer exist, while others have been severely downsized. Immediately after the storm, over 1/3 of the architects who belonged to the New Orleans chapter of the AIA either had no place to work, no place to live, or both. Firms with most of their work in New Orleans or the immediately surrounding areas were suddenly out of work, with contracts on hold or cancelled. Cash flow came to a sudden stop.

Recognizing the difficulties that were likely for these companies, Building Systems Design offered free BSD SpecLink^® one-year comprehensive subscriptions to any professional firm in the areas designated by FEMA as severely affected by the hurricane.

In the year since that offer was made, 13 firms have taken advantage of it. At least four dozen SpecLink projects have been initiated in Louisiana since the free subscriptions began. Some are new buildings, others are renovations. A significant number are schools and churches; other projects are commercial, and a few are residential. They have one thing in common: The specifications for all these projects were created with BSD SpecLink.

We are pleased to have played a small part in the ongoing reconstruction of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast, and we are happy to have new subscribers who will continue that work into the future.