Students Contribute to Post-Tornado Rebuilding Plans

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June 6, 2012 – It took only six minutes for a massive tornado to destroy 12 percent of Tuscaloosa, Ala., in April 2011, devastating thousands of homes, businesses and families. In the year since the storm, the media and general public’s attention has moved away from Tuscaloosa, but residents and University of Alabama students have devoted themselves to rebuilding their city and making it even better than before…

…The city’s strategic rebuilding plan, known as Tuscaloosa Forward, aims to do more than simply replace what existed before. Instead, the city is committed to reconstructing Tuscaloosa in a way that enhances neighborhoods and outdoor areas and improves the safety of its citizens.

University of Alabama employees and staff have been heavily involved in the design and planning process and have looked to construction engineering students for input. Starting in the fall of 2011 and continuing each semester, the College of Engineering integrated rebuilding plans into its senior design course, which requires each student to complete a real-world design project. Students are tasked with redeveloping a portion of the city in a way that aligns with the rebuilding efforts currently under way and supports the mission of the Tuscaloosa Forward strategic plan…

To read the entire article by Heidi Hahn, click here.