Designing for Resilience: Strategies to Mitigate Risk in Hurricane-Prone Climates

Tuesday, November 11, 2025  | 2-3pm ET | Earn 1 LU/HSW  | Cost: $30 AIA member; $45 non-member

Description

As climate change intensifies the frequency and severity of hurricanes, healthcare facilities in coastal regions face growing pressure to remain operational during extreme weather events. This webinar explores the design and planning of a forward-thinking New Medical Campus (Health First Cape Canaveral Replacement Hospital, built to endure Category 4 hurricanes while delivering uninterrupted care. 

Through the lens of this facility, architects (The Lawrence Group) and healthcare professionals will examine how resilient design imperatives—such as elevated construction, hardened building envelopes and integrated emergency planning—are essential in safeguarding public health in vulnerable regions. 

Key topics include: 

• Responding to a Changing Climate: How evolving environmental conditions shaped the design strategy 
• Designing for Continuity: Architectural and operational systems that ensure care delivery during and after hurricanes
• Collaborative Preparedness: Partnering with public health and emergency management agencies to develop robust response plans
• Site-Specific Risk Mitigation: Evaluating and addressing vulnerabilities unique to coastal Florida 

This session offers actionable insights for professionals designing healthcare campuses in hurricane-prone areas, emphasizing the need for adaptive, sustainable, and resilient solutions. 

Learning Objectives

• Describe resilience in the context of healthcare environments located in storm-prone climate zones.
• Collaborate with public health entities and healthcare organizations to incorporate emergency management plans.
• Evaluate site specific risk and vulnerability factors and integrate mitigation strategies into campus planning.
• Integrate architectural and operational strategies for resilient campus design.