The use of concrete as the innermost part of Q4 Architects' design for a tornado-resistant home in Missouri was one reason it achieved the top honor in the Designing Recovery Competition's housing category. The CORE House has features that can be found in conventional homes, but "once the tornado alarm goes off, everyone can find shelter in the home's core, which is sealed off with heavy-duty tornado doors and houses Murphy beds, a kitchen, bathroom and access to backup systems," writes Lidija Grozdanic.

Source: October 8 AGC SmartBrief e-newsletter which included this October 7 article from the Web site inhabit.com.