ROCKWORKS AND DANIEL LIBESKIND UNVEIL DESIGN FOR BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF THE GULF COAST HOPE CENTE

Released by: Randy Orndorf

Charities are unified in their efforts to rebuild after Katrina

Email: Randy@rockworks.us

Keywords: Katrina; Disaster Recovery; Charities, Celebrities, Rock Musicians

Update Date: 5/8/2006 7:17:50 PM

Hits: 380

Descrption:
Los Angeles, CA, May 9, 2006 – ROCKWORKS Foundation, a first-of-its-kind charitable ‘construction-production’ organization, today announced the unveiling of the architectural design, “Rejuvenation” by Daniel Libeskind for a new Boys & Girls Clubs of the Gulf Coast (BGCGC) HOPE Center. The charities are unified in their efforts to rebuild the devastated community of Forest Heights, Gulfport, Mississippi destroyed by hurricane Katrina. Rather than simply rebuilding a stand-alone Boys and Girls Club to replace the one destroyed, ROCKWORKS and its partners have come together to build a revolutionary new kind of community based facility.

“We want to rebuild and expand the Forest Heights facility to accommodate not only the needs of Forest Heights residents and their children, but also the surrounding community of North Gulfport,” said Scott Kramer, Executive Producer for the ROCKWORKS Foundation. “The HOPE Center is a first step in the revitalization process and we are grateful for the collaboration and support of several organizations to make this happen.”

Hope Center Concept:
The “HOPE” in HOPE Centers stands for Home to Opportunity, Possibility and Empowerment. The HOPE Center concept is to expand its impact by combining the resources, programs and talents of several organizations into one location where people from across the community can come together. The new HOPE Center will cooperate with local community services to provide opportunities for additional community groups and organizations to augment the facility and its amenities.
New Facility Design:
Architectural design services for the Forest Heights BGCGC Hope Center are being provided by world renowned architect Daniel Libeskind of Studio Daniel Libeskind (SDL) in New York City and local Gulfport architect Guild Hardy Architects. The concept design process has been completed by SDL. The next steps will be for Daniel Libeskind and Guild Hardy Architects to identify materials that will allow the structure to not only serve day to day needs but also to investigate new materials and technologies that can provide the community shelter from future storms.

Mr. Libeskind is an international figure in architectural practice and urban design, well versed in designing cultural buildings and multi-purpose structures. Major projects
include: the master plan for the World Trade Center site in New York City; the extension to the Denver Art Museum in Colorado; the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, Canada; a residential complex in Singapore; and the redevelopment of the Fairgrounds in Milan, Italy.

“’Rejuvenation’ is an effort to go back to the roots of the community and design something that can grow out of these roots and that celebrates the community while doing so.”, said Daniel Libeskind. “I think the Boys & Girls Club and their mission is something inspiring and fantastic. Creating a facility that the community can enjoy amidst a difficult history and bringing to light a new future.”

Partnership & Collaboration:
ROCKWORKS and the BGCGC are working with Brett Favre Fourward Foundation, Force of Nature Aid Foundation and Operation Hope/Hope Coalition America to coordinate the effort of building the Center and raising funds to sustain the new facilities services and programs. The benefits of this approach extend far beyond the construction of the new facility. Joint use of facilities naturally leads to collaboration on the program level.