August 15, 2008
Contact:
Lauren Anderson, 504-899-5900, laurenanderson@nhsnola.org
Hillary Rowe, 404-526-1272, hrowe@nw.org
Neighborhood Housing Services of New Orleans to Be Featured in New Sundance Channel Program
Six-part series follows Tulane University students as they design and build an affordable home in New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana –
Neighborhood Housing Services of New Orleans, a member of the national NeighborWorks® network, will be highlighted in Sundance Channel’s ARCHITECTURE SCHOOL, a six-part series that follows a group of students at Tulane University's prestigious School of Architecture as they submit competing designs for an affordable home in rebuilding New Orleans.
Filmed during the 2007-2008 school year, the series follows the construction of the third home in Tulane University's URBANbuild program. Neighborhood Housing Services (NHS) of New Orleans is a partner of Tulane University’s URBANbuild program, which offers fourth year architecture students the opportunity to design and build low-cost single-family home over the course of the school year.
NHS of New Orleans is a nonprofit agency with a 32 year-long history in the city that works to restore urban neighborhoods and offers assistance to first time low- and middle-income homebuyers through their NeighborWorks America Homeownership Center. NHS ultimately owns the house and sells it to a low or moderate income family. NHS provides the land and the capital for the project.
“This project was a great way for students to see their ideas realized at an unusually early stage of their professional careers, not to mention a way to contribute to a city still trying to rebuild three years after Hurricane Katrina,” said Lauren Anderson, executive director of NHS. “This is also a rare opportunity for architectural students to learn about affordable housing; its constraints and opportunities. They had to work within a strict budget and with a small lot. I told the students that I wanted a 1,200 square foot home with three bedrooms and two bathrooms. And they accomplished that. In the end, NHS is able to test new building technologies and the students have an appreciation for affordable housing. It is a very rich, mutually beneficial relationship.”
The home was constructed with green technology of pre-fabricated walls that afford fast, easy construction and are energy efficient and cost effective. It was built in the Central City neighborhood in New Orleans.
ARCHITECTURE SCHOOL will air on the Sundance Channel, beginning on Wednesday, August 20, at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT.
About NeighborWorks America
NeighborWorks America creates opportunities for people to improve their lives and strengthen their communities by providing access to homeownership and to safe and affordable rental housing. Since 1991, we have assisted nearly 1.2 million low- to moderate-income families with their housing needs. Much of our success is achieved through our support of the NeighborWorks network ― more than 230 community development organizations working in more than 4,400 urban, suburban and rural communities in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. In the last five years, NeighborWorks organizations have generated more than $15 billion in reinvestment in these communities. NeighborWorks America is the nation’s leading trainer of community development and affordable housing professionals. www.nw.org.
About
Neighborhood Housing Services of New Orleans
has provided counseling for close to 5,000 families, generated over 240 mortgages (worth $4.9 million) and close to $9 million in construction, and directly helped 773 families become first-time homebuyers in the last decade. NHS is a member of the nationwide NeighborWorks® network of more than 230 community development organizations working in more than 4,400 urban, suburban and rural communities across America. These organizations engage in revitalization strategies that strengthen communities and transform lives. In the last five years, NeighborWorks organizations have generated more than $15 billion in reinvestment in these communities.
