A research project led by Katilyn Kemper, an undergraduate Architecture student and President of the National Organization of Minority Architecture Students (NOMAS) at the 老司机福利网, has been selected for a Louisiana Board of Regents Supervised Undergraduate Research Experiences (SURE) grant. The project, developed in collaboration with Dr. Donggyu Lee, Assistant Professor in the School of Architecture and Design, received $4,800 in funding to support hands-on research addressing flood risks in Louisiana鈥檚 coastal communities.
Their study, titled 鈥淓valuating Flood Exposure and Resilience of Public Buildings in Coastal Louisiana,鈥 aims to assess how the design and construction of public buildings can better mitigate future flood risks. The project builds on lessons from the 2016 Louisiana floods, when numerous public facilities across the state were inundated and forced to close temporarily.
Through the SURE program鈥攆unded by the National Science Foundation and the Louisiana Board of Regents鈥擪emper will analyze flood maps, site characteristics, and architectural features of selected public buildings to evaluate their vulnerability to flooding. The research will also examine examples from other coastal regions to identify practical strategies, such as elevating building entries and protecting openings, that could improve resilience.
The findings will contribute to the development of a public building inventory and inform design recommendations to help local governments and communities strengthen the resilience of public infrastructure across Louisiana鈥檚 coast.
Dr. Lee said the project not only addresses a critical environmental challenge but also provides an exceptional learning experience for an undergraduate researcher.
Kemper鈥檚 research reflects the School of Architecture and Design鈥檚 commitment to sustainability, innovation, and community resilience鈥攌ey values that guide the University鈥檚 approach to addressing Louisiana鈥檚 most pressing environmental challenges.