Designing for Resilience: Strategies to Mitigate Risk in Hurricane-Prone Climates

AIAU25-AAH07

Included in subscription

1 LU|HSW

Live course date: 11/11/2025 | 02:00 PM

$30

Architect$30

Member Price

$45

Non-member Price

Description

Tuesday, November 11, 2025 | 2-3pm ET

As climate change intensifies the frequency and severity of hurricanes, healthcare facilities in coastal regions face growing pressure to remain operational during extreme weather events. This webinar explores the design and planning of a forward-thinking New Medical Campus (Health First Cape Canaveral Replacement Hospital, built to endure Category 4 hurricanes while delivering uninterrupted care.

Through the lens of this facility, architects (The Lawrence Group) and healthcare professionals will examine how resilient design imperatives—such as elevated construction, hardened building envelopes and integrated emergency planning—are essential in safeguarding public health in vulnerable regions.

Key topics include:

Responding to a Changing Climate: How evolving environmental conditions shaped the design strategy
Designing for Continuity: Architectural and operational systems that ensure care delivery during and after hurricanes
Collaborative Preparedness: Partnering with public health and emergency management agencies to develop robust response plans
Site-Specific Risk Mitigation: Evaluating and addressing vulnerabilities unique to coastal Florida

This session offers actionable insights for professionals designing healthcare campuses in hurricane-prone areas, emphasizing the need for adaptive, sustainable, and resilient solutions.

Learning Objectives

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Describe resilience in the context of healthcare environments located in storm-prone climate zones.

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Collaborate with public health entities and healthcare organizations to incorporate emergency management plans.

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Evaluate site specific risk and vulnerability factors and integrate mitigation strategies into campus planning.

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Integrate architectural and operational strategies for resilient campus design.

Presented in partnership with the Academy of Architecture for Health (AAH).

Instructors

Thomas Bahr

AIA, NCARB, EDAC, WELL AP, LEED AP BD+C, LSSYB

Thomas has over 19 years of architectural experience with a specialized focus on healthcare design. Thomas is currently a Principal at BSA and is committed to creating inspired solutions that improve lives by fostering health, wellness, and productivity. His journey in architecture has been driven by a passion for creating sustainable buildings and spaces that enhance the lives of their occupants and support the vital work they do. Thomas has a Bachelor of Architecture from Drury University and is currently co-chair of the AIA Academy of Architecture for Health Webinar Committee, chair of the AIA St. Louis Christopher Kelley Leadership Development Program for 2025-2026 and is a board member of the Missouri SAVE Coalition.

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Dan DeWeese

NCARB, LEED Green Associate

Dan DeWeese, Registered Architect, NCARB, LEED Green Associate is a Senior Associate at Lawrence Group with 14 years of experience designing and planning for a diverse range of Healthcare campuses, Hospitals, and Clinical Environments. As a thought leader in planning and programming for the studio, he understands the complexities of healthcare environments and develops informed, innovative resolutions to solve clients’ unique challenges. Dan works closely with stakeholders and teams to translate intricate requirements into functional, purposeful solutions. Dan is passionate about health and wellness design and also living a healthy active lifestyle outside of the workplace.

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John Iffring

PLA, ASLA

John Iffrig, PLA, ASLA is a forward-thinking and detail-oriented landscape architect with 19 years of experience designing and delivering sustainable, accessible outdoor environments. His work is rooted in a deep commitment to enhancing quality of life—particularly for healthcare facilities—through landscapes that are both functional and visually engaging.
John excels in collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to develop comprehensive master plans that foster social interaction, prioritize accessibility, and support environmental stewardship. His expertise spans site analysis, project management, and community engagement, with a strong focus on thoughtful, human-centered design.
His portfolio includes campus master planning, site layout, grading, hardscape, irrigation, and planting design. John has contributed to projects across all of Lawrence Group’s markets, including senior living, healthcare, community, higher education, workplace, hospitality, and retail.

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