ConstructConnect and AEC Cares Unite to Renovate Women’s Substance Abuse Treatment Center

ConstructConnect, a leading provider of construction information and technology in North America, partnered with the American Institute of Architects (AIA), Hanley Wood Media, and industry volunteers to revitalize the Jacquelyn House at the Santa Maria Hostel in Houston, Texas as part of AEC Cares’ eighth annual “blitz build.”

“ConstructConnect, partnering with the AIA and Hanley Wood, is proud of the contribution that AEC Cares made on October 5 at the Santa Maria women’s shelter. As these women recover from addiction, trafficking, and other trauma, Santa Maria becomes their home,” said Laura Marlow, ConstructConnect vice president of strategic partnerships and AEC Cares executive director.

The Santa Maria Hostel is the largest multi-site residential and outpatient treatment center in Texas and has been serving the community since the 1950s. They provide a wide range of treatment programs and recovery services as part of their mission to “empower women and their families to lead healthy, productive and self-fulfilling lives.” Last year alone, Santa Maria provided services to 4,640 women and children.

Affectionately known as “projectHouston,” the renovation project was valued at over $300,000 and included a generous amount of donated materials and volunteer time. Volunteers participated in refurbishing the dining room and two group counseling rooms at Jacquelyn House.

Volunteers also landscaped the outdoor green space and playground area and installed new playground equipment and a shade sail. In addition, the project’s design team contributed over 320 hours towards the planning and design of Santa Maria’s renovation. The design team was led by Kirksey Architecture and included LKB Architecture, Rivers Barden Architects, Powers Brown Architecture, Terralab Landscape Architects, and Harvey Builders.

“We’re thrilled that, through the teamwork of an amazing pro bono design team, 150+ volunteers, and generous sponsors, we were able to improve interior and exterior spaces, and have a positive impact on the lives of women in recovery. We believe that everyone deserves good design and a helping hand,” said Catherine Callaway, AIA, Senior Associate at Kirksey Architecture and the leader of the pro bono design team.

With the help of over 30 corporate sponsors including USG, YKK AP, On Center Software, The Vinyl Institute, and Andersen, AEC Cares’ volunteers completed projectHouston on time using a record amount of building products:

• 55 gallons of paint
• 3,600 square feet of flooring provided by Mohawk and installed by Architectural Flooring
• 2,000 cubic feet of mulch for landscaping and the playground area

“The results of the AEC Cares ‘blitz build’ exceeded our expectations. Watching all the various partners come together to renovate Santa Maria’s Jacquelyn House was truly amazing,” said Nadine Scamp CEO of Santa Maria Hostel, Inc. “The beautiful, functional spaces created for our women during the AEC Cares event help provide a soothing, therapeutic space to facilitate that restoration process, and we are truly grateful for all the sponsors and partners who have made this possible.”

For the past eight years, during AEC Cares’ annual build, ConstructConnect, AIA, and Hanley Wood Media have joined forces to raise awareness and provide community support for worthwhile projects across the United States.

Beginning in 2011, these groups collaborated to rebuild five homes devastated by Hurricane Katrina. Past projects include:

• projectDC (2012) – revitalized the training center at Sasha Bruce YouthWorks
• projectDenver (2013) – renovated the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless’ Beacon Place shelter
• projectChicago (2014) – transformed a former school annex for use as the Metropolitan Family Service’s Early Learning and Wellness Center
• projectAtlanta (2015) – renovated the Covenant House Georgia which serves homeless and at-risk youth
• projectPhiladelphia (2016) – revitalized several rooms at the Philadelphia Athletic Recreation Center
• projectOrlando (2017) – upgraded several areas in the women’s center at the Coalition for the Homeless

For more information about AEC Cares, visit aeccares.com.

Link to AEC Cares post-event here.  Photo Credit: Sheryl Lochridge – Your Best Shot Photography.

About ConstructConnect
ConstructConnect is a leading provider of construction information and technology solutions in North America and is committed to transforming the way the construction industry does business by providing its customers the tools, information, and connections needed to drive their success. ConstructConnect brings the construction industry together with the most complete, accurate, and actionable construction data and tools to drive success in national, regional, and local markets. For more information, visit constructconnect.com.

About AEC Cares
AEC Cares is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, founded in 2011, and actively supported by ConstructConnect, the American Institute of Architects (AIA), and Hanley Wood. Each year, with the help of sponsors and volunteers in the AEC industry, AEC Cares holds a one-day blitz build for a deserving organization that supports their local community.