Source: Lafarge North America, Chicago
Lafarge NA is the lead sponsor for Designing for Disaster at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C., a year-long exhibition spotlighting the evolving science of disaster mitigation, plus tools and strategies for building safer, stronger and more resilient communities.
Designing for Disaster will open May 11 and remain on view through August 2, 2015. Through unique objects, captivating graphics and multimedia—including video testimonials—the exhibition will explore new solutions for, and historical responses to, a range of natural hazards including earthquakes, tornadoes, flooding and wildfires. A variety of exemplary disaster-resistant residential, commercial and institutional facilities, as well as public transportation systems, will be featured. Highlights also include a FEMA-specified safe room built to withstand tornado-force winds and a “wall of wind” that invites visitors to test various roof profiles against simulated hurricane-force winds.
“As a leading provider of sustainable, high-performance solutions for building better cities, Lafarge is committed to driving innovation and supporting collaborative dialogues on disaster-resistant design approaches for creating a safer, more durable and resilient built environment,” said Maik Strecker, vice president of marketing for Lafarge U.S. “We are proud to serve as the lead sponsor of this educational initiative at the National Building Museum to foster public awareness and understanding of engineering and construction strategies for protecting life and property against a wide range of natural hazards.”
To complement the exhibition, the National Building Museum and its partners have planned a full slate of public programming. Topics include the effects of hurricanes in urban areas, the Rebuild by Design project that hopes to revitalize the region affected by Hurricane Sandy, the rising waters of the Chesapeake Bay, and the importance of resilient landscapes. For more information about the public programming and exhibition, visit www.nbm.org.