ConstructConnect, The American Institute of Architects (AIA) and Hanley Wood Media collaborate with sponsors to improve a Houston women’s substance abuse treatment and recovery center

Many companies, including YKK AP, USG, Vinyl Institute, Kawneer and Formica have made significant contributions to help renovate the Santa Maria Hostel in Houston. The women’s substance abuse treatment and recovery center was chosen earlier this year as the recipient of AEC Cares’ eighth annual blitz build, projectHouston, which will take place on October 5, 2018.

The Santa Maria Hostel is one of Texas’ largest multi-site residential and outpatient treatment centers, serving over 4,640 individuals in 2017 for addictions, homelessness, incarceration, abuse and other traumas. Its mission is to empower women and their families to lead healthy, productive and self-fulfilling lives.

“AEC Cares projectHouston is a wonderful opportunity for us to work with talented professionals to re-design and renovate our location so that we can give our residents a beautiful, functional space in which to begin their recovery journey,” said Nadine Scamp, Santa Maria Hostel CEO.

ConstructConnect, one of the leading providers of construction information in North America, AIA and Hanley Wood Media have joined forces the past eight years for the AEC Cares’ blitz build, an annual building project that provides community support for worthwhile projects across the United States.

“We at ConstructConnect are proud of the $2.5M+ worth of renovations that AEC Cares has contributed to needy communities throughout the US over the past seven years,” explained Laura Marlow ConstructConnect vice president of strategic partnerships and AEC Cares executive director. “We’re looking forward to rolling up our sleeves with local architects, engineers, GC’s, product manufacturers and other volunteers to renovate the Santa Maria Hostel in Houston. Together, we’ll help to give these ladies and their children a brighter, more attractive environment in which to build a better life.”

Past AEC Cares projects include the following:

• New Orleans (2011) – rebuilt five homes devastated by Hurricane Katrina
• Washington D. C. (2012) – revitalized the training center at Sasha Bruce YouthWorks
• Denver (2013) – renovated over $250,000 of improvements to a veterans’ homeless shelter
• Chicago (2014) – transformed a 30-year-old former school into a low income early-learning center
• Atlanta (2015) – renovated a shelter dedicated to homeless and runaway youths
• Philadelphia (2016) – revitalized several rooms at the Philadelphia Athletic Recreation Center
• Orlando (2017) – upgraded several areas in the women’s center at the Coalition for the Homeless

Additional projectHouston sponsors this year include MAPEI, Assemble Systems, DesignIntelligence and Wells & Kimich, Inc.

To sponsor the AEC Cares project or to find additional information, visit aeccares.com.

About ConstructConnect

ConstructConnect is a leading provider of construction information and technology solutions in North America and is committed to transforming the way the construction industry does business by providing its customers the tools, information and connections needed to drive their success. ConstructConnect brings the construction industry together with the most complete, accurate and actionable construction data and tools to drive success in national, regional and local markets. For more information, visit constructconnect.com.

About AEC Cares

AEC Cares is a 501c3 not-for-profit corporation actively supported by ConstructConnect with the AIA and Hanley Wood, generous sponsors, donors, and volunteers. Bringing together architects, contractors, manufacturers and industry professionals from across the United States and Canada, AEC Cares works to create positive change through meaningful projects that benefit a new community every year. To learn more about AEC Cares, visit aeccares.com.