Rouse of Pittsburgh Selected to Help New Orleans Rebuild

CONTACT:

Caroline M. Brobeil
Public Relations Manager
Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis LLP
215-751-2061

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 7, 2005 – Philadelphia, PA – Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis attorney and architect Deborah Rouse has been selected from a national pool to join a team of six  providing expertise on preservation of historic sites as New Orleans rebuilds from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.
  
“It is an honor to be part of an effort to restore the community in New Orleans, which has more than 37,000 historic structures within its City limits,” said Ms. Rouse.  “The team I will be joining has been asked to conduct field work and assessments, as well as evaluate the importance of meeting the standards that are in place by the United States Secretary of Interior for historic structures.  Part of what we will assess is whether a building can be saved. What are the implications if it is not?  Ultimately, the volunteers will also be working to help City officials determine how to best protect its historic assets given the many other demands and limited resources.”

“With her legal expertise and experience as an architect heavily involved in preservation work, Deb brings a rare mix to the equation,” said Jeff Letwin, managing partner of Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis.  “Her experience is especially relevant for New Orleans given her work at the City level in Pittsburgh.  We are thrilled that she has been selected for this opportunity.”

Departing Pittsburgh on November 7th, Ms. Rouse will join the five other members of her team, all of whom are committing one week of time each to this important work.  The National Trust conducted a nationwide search for experts to assist in this process, and chose individuals to participate from a pool of more than 1,200 volunteers nationwide; different teams will travel to New Orleans and assist the city for each of the next twelve weeks   Among her team members, Rouse will be joined by a City Councilman from Richmond, California, a leader in preservation from Colorado and a member of the historic Preservation Network based in Michigan.   

The National Trust for Historic Preservation is a private, non-profit membership organization dedicated to saving historic places and revitalizing America’s communities.

News of Rouse’s work was reported in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Nov. 21, 2005.

For more information please visit www.Schnader.com or contact Caroline M. Brobeil (see contact information above).