Faculty and students discuss designs at USC Architecture.

The USC School of Architecture has launched the HLW Project Héroe Research Initiative, an interdisciplinary task force comprised of architects, consultants, medical experts, contractors, students and recent graduates that aims to find a prevent future COVID-19-like outbreaks.

Spearheaded by USC Architecture alumnus David Swartz (M.Arch ’89), and developed in collaboration with architecture firm HLW and the Keck School of Medicine, Project Héroe will study how COVID-19 can help identify infrastructures that will thwart future pandemics and allow people to interact unhindered by social distancing.

Over five weeks, the task force will investigate two key questions: “Is there a built solution that can be implemented to stem future outbreaks of a similar virus?” and “What can we do as architects to create an environment where this problem can be solved?”

“My goal with this project is the hope to have an impact on the world and on the safety of our future,” said Swartz, senior partner at HLW. Project Héroe will serve as a paid summer research project for the program’s six participating researchers — USC students and alumni. All architects, consultants, medical experts and contractors involved are volunteering their time and donating funds to support the project.

“We teach that architects are active participants in their society and can solve a wide range of issues through creative built solutions,” stated Milton S. F. Curry, USC School of Architecture dean. “Project Héroe provides our students with a rare opportunity to put their citizen-focused architectural education into practice to help solve a current global crisis. They can make an immediate impact on our future with their fresh, innovative thinking. We are honored that HLW and USC Keck School of Medicine elected to collaborate with our students on this timely project.”

Henry Wu, MD, FAAP, a Keck School alumnus who’s now a voluntary, adjunct clinical assistant professor of pediatrics at Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, serves on the USC Board of Governors with Swartz. The two connected on the new project through their USC alumni ties. 

“The medical students who have volunteered for this important project are very excited to collaborate with the USC School of Architecture,” Wu said. “The medical students and experts will help provide insight into hospital workflow and operations of the clinical space during the current pandemic and share their creative and innovative ideas for future improvement in an ideal, built solution for public health.”

So far, $43,500 in funds have been raised from the USC Architectural Guild and local and national firms in the built environment for Project Héroe. “For 61 years, the USC Architectural Guild has supported and celebrated the academic achievements, innovation, and professional development of the students of USC Architecture. We’re proud to help fund this initiative that is engaging students in timely, pressing research investigations and design solutions to the post-pandemic world,” says Leslie Young (B.Arch ’95), president of the Guild.

If you would like to make a contribution, please visit the donation link here or contact Ratri Lertluksamipun at lertluks@usc.edu.