In This Issue
Rebuilding Baton Rouge
August 11-13, 2016
saw 18-31" of rain fall on Baton Rouge and surrounding areas.  The accumulating stormwater overwhelmed the local network of bayous, raising the Amite River from its normal 12' above sea level to a record 46.2', flooding major parts of East Baton Rouge, Ascension, & Livingston Parishes.  Almost 50,000 buildings were affected in this parish alone.  Clean-up and rebuilding efforts have been dramatic and transformational, amid far-reaching visions to improve the infrastructure of the region....

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Viewpoints
a Year after the Flood

Greetings and I hope you are doing well.  Events this last year and a half brought me on a kind of Odyssey starting work for the City of Baton Rouge / Parish of East Baton Rouge, getting married in early summer, evacuating from rising floodwaters in August, gutting the house, gradually restoring it, and returning home.  This Newsletter of Stephen M. Long Architect will discuss the City / Parish's restoration and vision for its future, featuring a sustainably-designed office building where I presently work, for which I served as Project Manager in its LEED Gold Certification...
* Rose Award Winner *
BR Public Works  Planning Center
Renovating a 1923 neo-gothic educational building on the National Register, the Baton Rouge Public Works and Planning Center was accomplished with the help of a $1.3 million grant from the US Department of Energy to fund its sustainability goals.
The 53,000sf, $7.1 million project created municipal offices for the Planning Commission, Architectural and Engineering Services Divisions, and a place for the public to visit for issues related to water service.  With the installation of many sustainability features including a rooftop solar PV panel array,  the US Green Building Council recently awarded it LEED Gold Certification.  Read More...
Wedding
Announcing the marriage of Stephen M. Long and Ashley McManus-Long, the children of M.E. Long and Mary Ellen Glass-Long, and  William McManus and Diana Aucoin-McManus.  The ceremony was held  at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on June 25, 2016. 
House Restoration
Seven weeks after our wedding, we had to evacuate our house with pets and what personal items we could fit in our cars, to escape the flood that would rise about 15" above the house's floor.  When the waters receded in a few days, we returned to the area in temporary accommodations, and with the help of family and volunteers, salvaged what we were able, while gutting the house of any potentially mold-contaminated materials, including most flooring, gypsum drywall and insulation up to 4' high, base cabinets, etc.
 
Restoration was a slow process over about 7 months.  From March 2017 we are thankful to once again be residing in our restored home.  Special thanks to our parents, friends Lucy Hubenak, Stacy and Robert Taylor, David & Lawson Long, Robert Elia, James Culbreth and Meadowbrook Baptist Church, Joni Baugh, Leigh Anne & John Sharpe, Jason Verts, Courtney & Amber Long, Anthony Milordis, all valiant volunteers and workers, and for the generous charitible donations from some of the latter as well as FEMA, AIA Louisiana, Blue Cross & Blue Shield, First United Methodist Church of Alexander City, family & friends.
Begin Again
Video of the song by Taylor Swift
Click here to view on You Tube.
Thank you for your interest and support.  I am serving as a Senior Architect for City / Parish Architectural Services.

Sincerely,

Stephen M Long

Stephen M Long AIA, NCARB
LEED Accredited Professional BD+C