Hi, all. I'm admittedly a little biased since I'm the Staff Architect for Austin Habitat for Humanity. I've been in this role since 2013 when the role was created. There are a few other affiliates in the US that have a staff architect or director of design who is an architect. Every affiliate will have different volunteer and design needs, so I encourage you to reach out to your local affiliate and see how open they are to collaboration or donations of pro bono work. We have opted to hire outside architects and engineers so that we get the attention to detail and deadlines that we require since pro bono work often is given a little less priority in some design offices.
I'd like to mention, in response to a previous post, that we absolutely focus on durability and the overall cost of ownership for our client families. We are NEVER given a pass by inspectors and have been told by inspectors that we have done great work, though we've also paid for plenty of re-inspections. We consistently receive 3 or 4 stars on our single-family residences in the Austin Energy Green Building (AEGB) program. We often have to modify only a few things (like adding more LED lights) to reach Energy Star certification when certain funding requires it. AEGB is a great program and also allows us to waive permitting fees, leading to more investment in our final product while keeping the sales price affordable. We've done Zero Energy Homes and are planning a new development of Zero Energy Ready Homes now.
We are currently in the permitting process for our newest endeavor: a 126-unit multifamily and townhome project in a condo regime. We are using local architects and engineers for design and permitting, and we will still use our volunteer-build model on the townhomes. We are super excited about this project as it moves us into a denser product model.
We still have detached single-family homes, generally on relatively small lots. We finished our first townhome project in 2021 and will do a new 12-unit duplex project this year. Some of these projects are designed and permitted in-house, while the larger projects are usually designed by local architecture firms.
I'm happy to talk with anyone that wants to understand how to better engage with your local affiliate or with Habitat for Humanity International.
~Claire
Claire Walpole, AIA, LEED AP | Staff Architect
cwalpole@ahfh.org | O: 512.472.8788 Ext. 246 | C: 512.638.6301
Austin Habitat for Humanity | 500 W Ben White Blvd, Austin, TX 78704
------------------------------
Claire Walpole AIA
Austin Habitat for Humanity
Austin TX
------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 01-27-2023 10:31 AM
From: Dustin Goffron AIA
Subject: Habitat For Humanity
Have any architecture firms out there partnered with their local Habitat affiliate to either help promote affordable housing or build and or donate to Habitat?
I think there is a missed opportunity for this. Partnering with a local affiliate can be done in many ways - helping design low cost housing, helping revitalize the neighborhood or even a team build day
Let me know you know of any success stories - or ways that you've connected. I am a board member at a local Habitat affiliate and I'd like to find a way to connect to local architecture firms. I am in the north suburbs of Chicago.
Thank you
------------------------------
Dustin W. Goffron, AIA, LEED AP+, CDT
http://www.linkedin.com/in/dustingoffron
------------------------------