The Evolution Of The Katrina Cottage

"An idea spawned by the wake of Hurricane Katrina in August of 2005 has caused a splash in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools’ auxiliary services (buildings and such) department. Late last month, CMS officials gave the green light to a plan to build a schoolhouse prototype out of 'Katrina Cottages.'"

"Those are the small, easy-to-assemble dwellings invented as a temporary and long-term housing solution for refugees from the storm that devastated the Gulf Coast 18 months ago. CMS agreed to donate a site — Assistant Superintendent for Auxiliary Services Guy Chamberlain says finding a place in the system where some additional classrooms are needed won’t be too hard — if a group led by architect Tom Low, formerly of Huntersville, can figure out how to build it. Low, who works for the Charlotte office of the firm that helped plan Huntersville’s Vermillion subdivision, says he’ll find a way to get it done."

"The cottages, as envisioned by Low, will cost more than the mobile units CMS currently employs by the thousands to provide fast space at growing schools, but will look better and last longer."