[StBernard] Louisiana Speaks Pattern Book Wins National Award

[Westley Annis]

Louisiana Speaks Pattern Book Wins National Award

BATON ROUGE, LA (May 22 2007)- The Louisiana Speaks Pattern Book received the 2007 Charter Award, an annual prize awarded by the Congress for New Urbanism honoring projects around the world that promote walkable, neighborhood development as an alternative to urban sprawl. 

Elizabeth "Boo" Thomas, ASLA, President and CEO of the Center for Planning Excellence (CPEX); Ray Gindroz, FAIA, Chairman of Urban Design Associates, the creators of the Louisina Speaks Pattern Book; and Suzanne Turner, FASLA, who contributed to the Pattern Book's Landscape section, accepted the award on behalf of Louisiana Speaks at an awards ceremony held on May 18, 2007, in conjunction with the fifteenth Congress for New Urbanism in Philadelphia.

"The Louisiana Speaks Pattern Book has served as a valuable tool for thousands of residents across Louisiana, guiding the rebuilding of homes and communities safer, stronger and smarter than ever before," said Thomas.

Created as a resource for Louisianians rebuilding in the wake of the 2005 hurricane season, the Pattern Book contains patterns and techniques for building housing, neighborhoods, and towns while remaining true to the values and traditions of the people of Louisiana. It also provides guidance on incorporating green building, hazard-resistant design, and improved construction techniques into the built landscape.

A seven member jury chose the Pattern Book as one of 20 winning professional submissions and 5 student/faculty submissions from 125 entries received from across the country.

CNU reports that "[T]he project has given many pride and hope to rebuild in ways that uphold local tradition."

One hundred thousand copies of the Pattern Book were printed due to a generous grant provided by the Fannie Mae Foundation. To date, nearly 75,000 books have been distributed free-of-charge to residents across Louisiana, and CPEX reports that requests have come from places as far as away as Japan and Australia. Pattern books were initially distributed at Lowe's, Stine Lumber Stores and other locally owned building supply stores. 

The award winning Louisiana Speaks Pattern Book is available for download at www.louisianaspeaks.org <http://www.louisianaspeaks.org> .


Louisiana Speaks is the long-term planning initiative of the Louisiana Recovery Authority that is supported with private funds provided by the LRA Support Foundation. The Center for Planning Excellence (CPEX), which was created to serve as a resource for residents, community organizations, developers and elected officials to provide information on best practices for planning and urban design, also provides support and management for the Louisiana Speaks initiative.

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