2rw Partners with the Building Goodness Foundation in Haiti
The Building Goodness Foundation (BGF) is a Charlottesville-based nonprofit organization that brings together volunteers from construction-related industries to design and build facilities for communities in need. Several 2rw employees including Design Principal Robert Crowell, PE and engineers Adrienne Hendrickson, PE; Jon Bruneau, PE; and Colin Powell, EIT have donated their time and expertise to BGF with their involvement in the following projects:
Thomassin Volunteer Residence – Thomassin, Haiti
In 2009, a Haitian-run community clinic, which serves hundreds of people each month in the Thomassin area, opened its doors. The construction of the House of David Community Health Center was a joint venture between the Building Goodness Foundation (BGF) of Charlottesville, VA and the Functional Literacy Ministry (FLM) of Thomassin, Haiti. The structure survived the January 2010 earthquake with little damage and continues to provide important medical care to Thomassin residents.
In November 2010, the BGF began construction on a volunteer residence on the second floor of the Health Center. The Thomassin Volunteer Residence (TVR), completed in late 2011, will house visiting medical trainers, BGF volunteers, and other volunteers taking part in long-term rebuilding efforts. The income generated by the TVR will help to cover the costs of running the clinic and subsidize the construction of the Excelsior Technical Institute being built on the adjacent property.
2rw’s volunteer team began their involvement on these BGF projects in early planning meetings in the US. Subsequent visits to Haiti were made to perform reconnaissance for locally available construction materials and construction practices, survey the Health Center / TVR property, and provide support for constructing the TVR addition. With the knowledge gained from this experience, 2rw designed rainwater collection / distribution systems, generated electrical power distribution, and designed photovoltaic and solar thermal power water heating systems for the property. 2rw engineers returned to Haiti to provide labor support for constructing the plumbing and photovoltaic systems.
Excelsior Technical Institute – Thomassin, Haiti
2rw’s BGF volunteer team also designed the domestic plumbing and electrical systems for the Excelsior Technical Institute (ETI). The ETI is a trade school that empowers Haitians through vocational training to help rebuild Haiti in the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake disaster. The facility will provide education in building trades and other related skill sets crucially needed in the earthquake recovery effort. The men and women who graduate from the school will help spread their education to others and expand the ability of Haitians to help Haitians. Construction is scheduled to begin in January 2012.
2rw’s engineering design for the ETI incorporated several sustainable elements, including:
• Solar thermal water heating
• Rainwater harvesting
• Water conserving fixtures
• Sustainable lighting and power distribution
• Photovoltaic electricity generation
Thomassin Volunteer Residence – Thomassin, Haiti
In 2009, a Haitian-run community clinic, which serves hundreds of people each month in the Thomassin area, opened its doors. The construction of the House of David Community Health Center was a joint venture between the Building Goodness Foundation (BGF) of Charlottesville, VA and the Functional Literacy Ministry (FLM) of Thomassin, Haiti. The structure survived the January 2010 earthquake with little damage and continues to provide important medical care to Thomassin residents.
In November 2010, the BGF began construction on a volunteer residence on the second floor of the Health Center. The Thomassin Volunteer Residence (TVR), completed in late 2011, will house visiting medical trainers, BGF volunteers, and other volunteers taking part in long-term rebuilding efforts. The income generated by the TVR will help to cover the costs of running the clinic and subsidize the construction of the Excelsior Technical Institute being built on the adjacent property.
2rw’s volunteer team began their involvement on these BGF projects in early planning meetings in the US. Subsequent visits to Haiti were made to perform reconnaissance for locally available construction materials and construction practices, survey the Health Center / TVR property, and provide support for constructing the TVR addition. With the knowledge gained from this experience, 2rw designed rainwater collection / distribution systems, generated electrical power distribution, and designed photovoltaic and solar thermal power water heating systems for the property. 2rw engineers returned to Haiti to provide labor support for constructing the plumbing and photovoltaic systems.
Excelsior Technical Institute – Thomassin, Haiti
2rw’s BGF volunteer team also designed the domestic plumbing and electrical systems for the Excelsior Technical Institute (ETI). The ETI is a trade school that empowers Haitians through vocational training to help rebuild Haiti in the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake disaster. The facility will provide education in building trades and other related skill sets crucially needed in the earthquake recovery effort. The men and women who graduate from the school will help spread their education to others and expand the ability of Haitians to help Haitians. Construction is scheduled to begin in January 2012.
2rw’s engineering design for the ETI incorporated several sustainable elements, including:
• Solar thermal water heating
• Rainwater harvesting
• Water conserving fixtures
• Sustainable lighting and power distribution
• Photovoltaic electricity generation