NEW YORK CITY-Culling input from the city's design community, the American Institute of Architects New York chapter announced on Thursday that it had issued a report detailing short-, medium-, and long-term options for rebuilding efforts and preparing the city for future storms. The “Post-Sandy Initiative” report examines the hurricane's effects on buildings, neighborhoods, and the region, and offers next steps to support stakeholders in smarter rebuilding, the announcement states.

In the days after Hurricane Sandy, AIANY brought together the chairs of its 12 most relevant committees to discuss how the organization could assist the city in preparing for future disasters. Soon after, AIANY reached out to others in the city's design community to collaborate on the Post-Sandy Initiative. The organizations involved include the American Council of Engineering Companies, American Planning Association New York Metro Chapter, American Society of Landscape Architects New York Chapter, Citizens Housing & Planning Council, New York State Association for Affordable Housing, Regional Plan Association and Structural Engineers Association of New York.

“Superstorm Sandy resulted from the confluence of several unique circumstances,” notes Lance Jay Brown, co-chair of AIANY's design for risk and reconstruction committee, who oversaw the Post-Sandy Initiative. “We need to learn from that in order to address other threatening factors that may emerge from the next storms.”