Spring Break
Architecture for a social cause
Janhavi Purohit
Issue date: 4/4/08 Section: News
Sinclair said that though he began his career in an architectural firm, the projects he took on did not satisfy his desire to inspire change.
"Every project I did didn't seem to inspire me," Sinclair said. "They didn't enrich my life or the lives of the people I was serving."
Sinclair began the organization at the age of 22 when he contacted the United Nations refugee department and proposed a plan to aid the refugees of Kosovo.
According to Sinclair, however, his mission is not to simply aid the victims of a crisis, such as with Hurricane Katrina or the Sri Lanka tsunami.
"The role of an architect is not to jump into a disaster. Architects do not provide relief," Sinclair said. "Instead, we are here to help give communities the expertise, technology and social capital to rebuild communities. We work with the community to empower them."
Sinclair encouraged the students in the audience to get involved by sharing stories of the college students who aided with the rebuilding in New Orleans.
"Every project I did didn't seem to inspire me," Sinclair said. "They didn't enrich my life or the lives of the people I was serving."
Sinclair began the organization at the age of 22 when he contacted the United Nations refugee department and proposed a plan to aid the refugees of Kosovo.
According to Sinclair, however, his mission is not to simply aid the victims of a crisis, such as with Hurricane Katrina or the Sri Lanka tsunami.
"The role of an architect is not to jump into a disaster. Architects do not provide relief," Sinclair said. "Instead, we are here to help give communities the expertise, technology and social capital to rebuild communities. We work with the community to empower them."
Sinclair encouraged the students in the audience to get involved by sharing stories of the college students who aided with the rebuilding in New Orleans.
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