Recently I had the privilege of traveling to Port-au-Prince, Haiti to visit two project sites that I am currently working on. The company I work for (USKH) is doing the civil engineering design work on the rebuild of St. Francois de Sales Hospital and a new physical rehabilitation center in Port-au-Prince. The projects are being done in coordination with the architects of MSAADA (my dad's firm). I feel very lucky that I can be part of projects like these!
It was a very interesting (in a good way) trip, but very short. The infrastructure of the city is still in chaos in many places. Getting many of these facilities back on track is still a long way from being done. It's a one step at time process and is very interesting to work in an environment where you have to change the way you approach a project. For example, we take for granted here that we can just hook up to city water or sewer. Bringing basic services like clean water to a 200-bed hospital takes on a whole new dimension!
It was a very interesting (in a good way) trip, but very short. The infrastructure of the city is still in chaos in many places. Getting many of these facilities back on track is still a long way from being done. It's a one step at time process and is very interesting to work in an environment where you have to change the way you approach a project. For example, we take for granted here that we can just hook up to city water or sewer. Bringing basic services like clean water to a 200-bed hospital takes on a whole new dimension!
I did get to see quite a bit of the city and meet some very nice people. I could go on and on with a description, but I'll just share a couple picture. I have tons!!
This was the gate to the house where I stayed. Complete with armed guards!
The view from the office I worked out of.
The collapsed 5-story pediatric ward of St. Francois-de-Sales
Rubble of a ward at the hospital
Shanty houses on the hillside above the rehabilitation site