
Build Change
Model & Strategy
Build Change designs earthquake-resistant houses for communities in seismically active countries and trains local builders, homeowners, engineers and governmental officials to construct them. With a mission of greatly reducing deaths, injuries and economic losses caused by earthquake-related housing collapses, Build Change implements an efficient and culturally sensitive approach with a focus on long-term well-being.
By researching regional resources; sourcing materials locally and affordably; engaging homeowners in the decision-making process; involving and training local engineers, architects, builders, students and governments; and leveraging the knowledge and skills of the world’s top-tier engineers and architects, best practices for reconstruction are married with local education and training, job creation, economic stimulation and acceptance of safer building codes and methods. By 2024 Build Change aims to have 10 million more people in safer houses and schools.



Elizabeth Hausler, founder of Build Change, is a skilled brick, block and stone mason with an M.S. and a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley and an M.S. in Environmental Science from the University of Colorado. Before graduate school, she spent five years providing engineering consulting services at Peterson Consulting in Chicago and Dames & Moore in Denver. She has lectured on sustainable, disaster-resistant construction in 11 countries and served on the 2002-2003 National Research Council committee to develop a long-term research agenda for earthquake engineering.
Elizabeth is an Echoing Green Fellow, an Ashoka-Lemelson Fellow and was a Fulbright scholar to India in 2002-2003. She received the 2011 Schwab Foundation Social Entrepreneur of the Year and 2011 Lemelson-MIT Award for Sustainability for her work in sustainable reconstruction in developing countries.
IMPACT
Build Change greatly reduces deaths, injuries, and economic losses caused by housing collapses due to earthquakes and hurricanes in developing countries.
The organization is active in 10 countries and has influenced government policy or regulations on affordable, disaster-resilient housing in at least six countries. Build Change and partners have built 61,200 disaster-resistant buildings, making 334,100 people safer. This has generated jobs for 18,700 engineers and builders and provided training to 43,700 people.
By 2030, Build Change aims to have 10 million people in safer houses and safer schools.
Build Change News
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RT @BuildChangeLA: En el Congreso Mundial @ICLEI en Malmo, Juan Caballero, VP de Programas y Lizzie Collins, VP de Ingeniería en @BuildChan…
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Today at #ICLEIcongress, the Build Change team presented on Advancing Resilient Housing through Holistic Urban Plan… https://t.co/LUyL8ggtkt
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RT @echoinggreen: Join us on 🗓️ May 12 for our first public screening of "Unwavering: The Power of Black Innovation," a short film that re…
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Tomorrow at the @UKShelterForum, join Anna Pavan, Project Manager for Honduras, for her talk on the #ClimateChange… https://t.co/bjDVjMUDDb
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RT @autodesk: We’re celebrating the reimagined Autodesk Gallery in San Francisco with Mayor @LondonBreed and Autodesk President and CEO @An…
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Honored to be part of this exciting, vibrant event! https://t.co/u4e56SZkt7
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RT @BuildChangeLA: Seguimos brindando asistencia técnica y acompañamiento en la ejecución de obra del programa #PlanTerrazas. Las viviendas…
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RT @m_d_schroeder: It’s not just us who believe in #ResilientHousing - the participants of the @ICLEI World Congress agree: housing is and…
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RT @m_d_schroeder: Day 1 of @ICLEI’s World Congress to advance city action on climate and sustainability (especially on #ResilientHousing!)…
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RT @ICLEI: [ANNOUNCEMENT] We have officially launched the updated Global Research & Action Agenda (GRAA) at the #ICLEICongress Research S…
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We are excited to present our session on Advancing Resilient Housing through Holistic Urban Planning at the… https://t.co/Uln4FQtdL6
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RT @IntlCodeCouncil: The Code Council thanks the global sponsors of #BuildingSafetyMonth! #ACBOAAlliance, @OBOA_Office, @scotgov, @GSO2001,…
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We look forward to speaking at next week's #ICLEIcongress in @malmostad on the topic of Advancing Resilient Housing… https://t.co/QWIjUDqgOx
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RT @AutodeskFdn: What happens when @Buildchange uses @Autodesk technology to create 3D models of residential homes in Colombia? ✅ 1,250 hom…
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As climate-related disasters become more frequent and more severe, the need to elevate resilient housing on the cli… https://t.co/ZjGT7B3KMy
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We look forward to participating in the #MalmöSummit next month and discussing best practices in #sustainable devel… https://t.co/kCuThyQAqn
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RT @BuildChangePH: Everyone must adapt to #ClimateChange!
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RT @BuildChangeLA: "Una deuda pendiente", nuestro artículo sobre arquitectura a código abierto y su relación con el trabajo de Build Change…
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👉Three housing + disaster takeaways from the @UN's flagship report on Disaster Risk Reduction #DRR – #GAR2022. The… https://t.co/olP42xrXFa
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RT @BuildChangeLA: Lea la más reciente entrevista a Juan Caballero, Vicepresidente de Programas de @BuildChange en @Corresponsables. Habló…