Rice U. architecture experts available to discuss Harvey, Irma

EXPERT ALERT

David Ruth
713-348-6327
david@rice.edu

Mike Williams
713-348-6728
mikewilliams@rice.edu

Rice U. architecture experts available to discuss Harvey, Irma

HOUSTON – (Sept. 7, 2017) – In the wake of Hurricane/Tropical Storm Harvey and anticipating Hurricane Irma’s landfall in Florida, members of the Rice University School of Architecture faculty are available to discuss the storms’ impact.

Professor Ron Witte has expertise in urban architecture, the implications and possibilities of rebuilding and rethinking cities, buildings’ relationships to flood zones, architecture and density, and different models of housing and development.

Professor Albert Pope can discuss the urban consequences of the storm. “We have built this city for another climate and are out of step with the realities we face in the future,” he said of Houston. “In its present form, the city is as useful as a snowmobile in a swamp.”

Professor William Cannady can talk about how cities, especially Houston, rebound from natural disasters.

Professor Gordon Wittenberg can discuss planning and building construction issues related to flooding.

Assistant Professor of Architecture Jesus Vassallo is available to discuss density, housing and the role of public authorities in urban planning and design.

To schedule an interview with Rice School of Architecture faculty, contact Mike Williams at 713-348-6728 or mikewilliams@rice.edu.

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Located on a 300-acre forested campus in Houston, Rice University is consistently ranked among the nation’s top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has highly respected schools of Architecture, Business, Continuing Studies, Engineering, Humanities, Music, Natural Sciences and Social Sciences and is home to the Baker Institute for Public Policy. With 3,879 undergraduates and 2,861 graduate students, Rice’s undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio is 6-to-1. Its residential college system builds close-knit communities and lifelong friendships, just one reason why Rice is ranked No. 1 for quality of life and for lots of race/class interaction and No. 2 for happiest students by the Princeton Review. Rice is also rated as a best value among private universities by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance. To read “What they’re saying about Rice,” go to http://tinyurl.com/RiceUniversityoverview.