China CGTN TV interviews RAF Chair
09/26/2025
Advancing Awareness, Transparency & Education for Greater Resilience in the Built Environment
For a Stronger and Safer Built Environment
This annual awards program remembers
Mark Samuelian and builds on his legacy
The 4th annual AwardS ceremony will be held at THE MIAMI BEACH BOTANICAL GARDEN on NOVEMber 16, 2026
This year’s application period will commence in June.
Applicant projects can include private and public structures and infrastructure completed and available to visit. They must show benefits to residential buildings (other than dormitories, hotels and short-term rentals). The awards geographic scope encompasses the entire state of Florida.
The 2026 applications cycle will begin in june
The 4th annual AwardS ceremony will be held at the miami Beach botanical garden on NOVEMber 16, 2026
Below is a schedule of the 2026 awards cycle
2026 | |
|---|---|
June 1 | Application submittals commence |
Oct 9 | Application submittal deadline |
Nov 1 | Notification to short-list applicants |
Nov 16 | Awards announcement and ceremony |
$5,000+
$3,000 – $4,999
Bercow Radell
Fernandez Larkin + Tapenes
2023/2024/2025
$1,000 – $2,999
Miami Beach
Chamber of Commerce
2023
$100 – $999
WILLIAM & LILIANE VITALE
2023
Sponsor and donor inquiries to: [email protected]
Contributions can be tax deductible
November 17, 2025
The 3rd annual Mark Samuelian Awards in Residential Resilience were announced last night during a ceremony at the Miami Beach Botanical Garden.
The awards commemorate the life and legacy of the late Miami Beach Commissioner Mark Samuelian, who championed resilience for homes and communities facing natural and climate hazards. Resilience Action Fund (RAF) launched this program with a 10-year $50,000 pledge after the sudden loss of Mark in 2022 and was joined by other sponsors.
The seven-member Awards Committee is composed of resilience champions from academia, non-profits, professional services and industry. The program focuses on residential projects completed in the state of Florida that go above local codes and regulations. Award criteria included hazard resilience, environmental features, affordability, ease of duplication and community benefits.
The awarded projects this year were:
Encore Redevelopment, sited 23 miles inland, completed 4 buildings between 2014 and 2019. Resilient features are the location’s 22ft elevation, above code concrete construction, fire measures and a 35,000cf stormwater vault. Environmental elements include LEED Neighborhood and Gold/Silver building ratings, a 24KW solar plant and a high-efficiency central cooling plant. Community benefits are an urban farm, a nature park, a job training center and restoring an old church into a Black History Museum that honors the area’s century-old African American heritage. 3rd party buildings contribute to the district’s mixed-use and multi-income character.
House Elevation, hydraulically elevated in 2025 an existing middle-income concrete block house, 1/2 mile from Tampa Bay, which had repeatedly flooded, from 2ft to 17.6ft, 6.6ft above code. Resilient features include deeply embedded helical piles and above-code windows, doors and metal roof. Environmental benefits include saving materials and reducing waste by reusing the existing house. In the process local building officials were trained to facilitate future lifts.
McArthur – Fish Hawke in 2025 replaced a 1952 house at 4ft elevation 0.6 miles inland that had repeatedly flooded, with a new middle-income house elevated 17ft, 4ft above code. Resilient features include deeply embedded piles and above-code windows, doors, walls and metal roof. The house was factory-built in two halves and lifted on the piles. Environmental elements are reduced material waste and above-code thermal efficiency. Community benefits include less neighborhood disruption from the 70% reduction in construction time.
Aris Papadopoulos, FIU Resilience Expert and RAF Chair, said: “For the 3rd consecutive year Mark Samuelian’s legacy continues with a focus on affordable resilience for middle and lower income households. This year’s winners are great models that combine resilient vision, technology and execution at the local level, which can be applied elsewhere in Florida, the US and the World.”
The Mark Samuelian Awards in Residential Resilience is an annual recognition of individuals and organizations who demonstrate practical success in implementing hazard resilient measures, technologies and strategies in residential projects. The Awards Committee may expand its geographic scope in future years. It thanks its many sponsors and welcomes others to join.
All Awardees with Commissioner Dominguez and Awards Committee (AC)
Left to right: Cesar Constantino (AC), Mike Zehnder (Seasafe Homes), Laura Dominguez, David Iloanya (Tampa Housing Authority), Aris Papadopoulos (AC), Jeff Tosclaire (JAS Builders), John Stuart (AC), Albert Josuwan (JAS Builders), Allan Shulman (AC) and Jackie Touzet (AC)
David Iloanya of the Tampa Housing Authority (2nd left) receives the 1st Award from Commissioner Laura Dominguez and Committee members John Stuart & Aris Papadopoulos
Jeff Tosclaire and Albert Jasuwan of JAS Builders comment after receiving the 2nd Award for their House Elevation project
Awards Committee member Jackie Touzet presents 3rd Award to Mike Zehnder of Seasafe Homes for McArthur-Fish Hawke project
Miami Beach Commissioner Laura Dominguez speaks of Mark Samuelian’s enduring legacy
November 19, 2024
The 2nd annual Mark Samuelian Awards in Urban Resilience were announced last night during a ceremony at the Botanical Gardens in Miami Beach.
The awards commemorate the life and legacy of the late Miami Beach Commissioner Mark Samuelian, who championed a residents-first approach to resilience for homes and communities that face natural and climate hazards. Resilience Action Fund (RAF) launched this program with a 10-year $50,000 pledge after the sudden loss of Mark in 2022 and was joined by other sponsors.
The seven-member awards committee is composed of resilience champions from Florida International University (FIU), the University of Miami, the University of Florida, MIT, the American Society of Testing & Materials (ASTM), and the Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM). The awards program focuses on residential projects completed in the state of Florida. Award criteria included resilience to hazards, environmental features, affordability, ease of duplication, and community benefits.
The awarded projects this year were:
Babcock Ranch, which opened in 2022, provides single- and multifamily housing for various ages and incomes. It is mostly ungated and 30 miles inland. Resilient features include its 30-foot elevation, green and gray water management infrastructure, 160-mph wind and fire-resistant concrete block construction, reclaimed water irrigation, a 150MW solar park, buried power lines, schools, community, medical, and recreational facilities.
Lakewood Villages, completed in 2023, offers two- and three-bedroom apartments for working-class families in four three-story buildings 4.5 miles inland. Its resilient features include a 21-foot elevation, 38% green and permeable land use, a 240-mph wind, water-impervious, fire-rated, and mold-resistant structure, lightweight construction, a playground, and walking access to stores and bus transport.
The Lotus, completed in 2024, is a high-end 4-bedroom rental house in an ungated neighborhood 1.3 miles inland. Resilient features include its 10.5-foot elevation, 240 mph wind resistant, water-impervious, fire-tested, mold-resistant structure, and lightweight rapid construction.
Aris Papadopoulos, FIU Resilience Expert and RAF Chair, said: “Mark Samuelian’s legacy continues with these awards. In addition to urban infrastructure, Mark had a genuine interest in how people’s homes could survive. This year’s winners are great examples of resilient development strategies and solutions that can be applied to Florida, the US and the World.”
The Mark Samuelian Awards in Urban Resilience recognize individuals and organizations that have demonstrated practical success in implementing hazard-resilient measures, technologies, and strategies in residential projects.
October 27, 2023
The first annual Mark Samuelian Awards in Urban Resilience were announced last night during a ceremony at FIU-The Wolfsonian museum in Miami Beach.
The Mark Samuelian Awards in Urban Resilience commemorate the life and legacy of the late Miami Beach Commissioner Mark Samuelian, who championed a residents-first approach to resilience for homes and communities that face natural and climate hazards. Resilience Action Fund (RAF) launched this program with a $50,000 pledge after the sudden loss of Mark in 2022 and was later joined by other sponsors.
The five-member awards committee is composed of resilience champions from Florida International University, University of Miami, University of Florida and MIT. The program scope focused on residential projects completed in the seven southern counties of Florida. Award criteria included resilience to hazards, environmental features, affordability, ease of duplication and community benefits.
Two projects this year received 1st prize awards of $5,000 each:
Seminole Park, completed in 2021, provides affordable and walkable housing near community amenities. Resilient features include 9.7ft elevation, wind and fire-resistant concrete block construction, buried power lines and oak trees replanted away from buildings.
House In A Garden, completed in 2022 and owned/occupied by its architect developers, is a prototype house in an urban working-class neighborhood. Resilient features include 12.2ft elevation, wind and fire-enhanced cross-laminated timber (CLT) construction, aluminum exterior protection and rapid assembly methods.
Aris Papadopoulos, Founding Chair of RAF said: “Mark Samuelian’s legacy continues through this awards recognition of resilient houses. This year’s winners show what’s possible when we prioritize people and safety as we build new homes in the age of climate change. The projects serve as great examples of resilient building practices for Florida, the US, and worldwide.”
The Mark Samuelian Awards in Urban Resilience is an annual recognition of individuals and organizations who demonstrate practical success in implementing hazard resilient measures and strategies in residential projects. The awards committee will look to expand its geographic scope in future years.
Make check to Resilience Action Fund, with note ‘Samuelian Award’.
Mail to: Resilience Action Fund, 441 NE 52nd Street, Miami, FL 33137.
Donations under $1000 can also be made by PayPal paypal.me/ResilienceActionFund
