WASHINGTON, DC-Locally-based American Institute of Architects is on the road this week, holding its annual conference in New Orleans. The group is emphasizing the themes of the building community’s role in disaster recovery and ongoing sustainability. Both topics, particularly the former, have unfortunately been very timely, Clark D. Manus, CEO of Heller Manus Architects, and the association’s recently inaugurated president, tells GlobeSt.com.

Natural disasters this year in Japan, New Zealand and the southern US states, most recently, have highlighted a role that AIA began re-emphasizing recently, he says. “I wanted to amp up the level of preparedness of our members so that they can be available as resources to their committees. To that end I reinvigorated AIA’s disaster assistance committee late last year, reassembling the group and devoting more resources to it as well.”

These additional resources included more staff support, more members appointed to the committee and a more robust communication mechanism, he said. When disasters have struck, local members were able to tap AIA’s network for assistance with information dissemination, particularly as it relates to building codes. “We felt it was the best means to aid colleagues who are the eyes and ears on the ground.”

Another focus of the conference this year will be sustainability and--a favorite theme of Manus’--the importance of designing for the region. In fact, AIA’s Center for Communities by Design is conducting a pro-bono design assistance project on the Elysian Fields Avenue Corridor in the city’s downtown area, he says.  “This is a subject that is only growing in importance and interest to local communities.”