This October marks the five-year anniversary of Superstorm Sandy. Regrettably, many New Yorkers and our fellow citizens throughout the region still experience the ramifications of that storm today, from delays in commutes to the continued displacement of families. Since Sandy made landfall on October 29, 2012, numerous initiatives have taken place in the building and design industries and at the Center for Architecture to assist with the city’s rebuilding policies and envision a more resilient New York and region. 

In 2013, AIANY issued Building Better, Building Smarter: Opportunities for Design and Development, the Post-Sandy Initiative report produced with the New York City Department of City Planning (DCP) and numerous other agencies. The report addressed the diverse needs that emerged in response to Superstorm Sandy and posited ways to mitigate the effects of extreme weather events in the future. 

The unexpected power and breadth of Sandy, combined with its high-tide arrival in New York and New Jersey, created a need for realistic standards to protect communities in the way of future storms—storms that may likely be more powerful and inflict even greater damage. This unprecedented challenge, made more complicated by rising sea levels and the increasing frequency of events due to the changing conditions of our oceans and atmosphere, will define how we plan and regenerate our region for future generations. Indeed, global warming presents the single biggest threat to humankind worldwide, with attendant scenarios of ever-larger migrations of regional populations, economic destabilization, social inequity, and insecure water and food supplies across the globe.

By any recorded historical measure, the 2017 Atlantic hurricane season has resulted in catastrophic loss of life and damage. Hurricane Harvey was one of the most devastating storms to ever hit the United States, affecting hundreds of thousands of families in Houston and South Texas. Numerous islands in the Caribbean, practically the entire state of Florida, and much of the southeast U.S. are in the early stages of recovery from Hurricane Irma. Puerto Rico and other Caribbean islands have been left almost totally devastated by Hurricane Maria.  

The social, economic, and cultural fabric of coastal communities is also increasingly at risk. New York City’s coastline totals 520 miles – longer than the coastlines of Miami, Boston, Los Angeles, and San Francisco combined – and is home to almost 850,000 people (more than 10% of the city’s population), over 78,000 buildings, and critical transportation and utility infrastructure. 

As we watch our cities, states, and island nations begin the process of rebuilding, AIANY recognizes the important role of architects in preparing for and responding to disasters. We know that architects—through their education, training, and practice—have unique expertise to ensure that existing and new buildings are made more resilient and responsive to extreme weather-related events.

In addition to focusing on responsive capabilities, we must also consider the proactive strategies that are gaining traction in the nascent field of resilience planning. At the local, regional, and global level, planned defense strategies; managed retreat; culturally-appropriate community planning and engagement; and solutions for coastal, delta, and inland cities are being considered. How we respond to a future of inherent uncertainty will require resourceful and innovative approaches that integrate the knowable with the unimaginable. 

And surely, we must continue – in the wake of the decision by our federal government to abdicate participation in the Paris global climate accord –  as many U.S. and New York-based companies have, with our localized commitment to pursue and implement strategies and actions that conserve energy and pursue renewable energy production, reduce carbon emissions, and promote stewardship of our natural environment. It’s the only home we have. 

David Piscuskas, FAIA, LEED AP is the 2017 president of AIA New York and the founding partner at 1100 Architect, New York, N.Y.