Hong Kong, 15 May 2005 ————– Thomas Schmidt, AIA of Sepia Design Consultants Limited was selected to represent the Hong Kong Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) in a multi-disciplinary team to visit Sri Lanka in the aftermath of the devastating 24 December 2004 tsunami.
At the request of the Sri Lankan Institute of Architects (SLIA), the American Institute of Architects (AIA) assembled and mobilized a joint team consisting of the AIA, American Planning Association (APA), and the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) to assess the damage along the country’s coastal areas caused by the tsunami.
While inspecting damaged areas along the island’s coastal areas, the team met with various Sri Lankan government departments. The team later collaborated in recommending strategies for reconstruction, updating land use guidelines, and developing coastal design and reconstruction guidelines.
Following his return to Hong Kong, Schmidt presented the findings of the multidisciplinary task force to members of the Hong Kong Institute of Architects (HKIA) and AIA Hong Kong.