EDUCATION PROJECTS

Educational programs at all levels (elementary, secondary, post-secondary) serve students, staff, and faculty in a wide variety of buildings covering numerous different educational activities. Within that setting, there is often the need to provide services or programs to students with a diversity of physical and cognitive capabilities. There is also a particular concern, in many cases, of not ostracizing or creating a stigma for anyone who has such special needs. Hence, inclusiveness and support of all students takes on a particular need. In this situation, Universal Design can be used to directly help enhance accessibility and inclusiveness for all students. It can do the same for any staff or faculty who have other needs, too.

Education Project Example

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Clemson University - Football Operations Facility
Architect: Goodwyn Mills Cawood (GMC) & HOK (Kansas City, Mo.)
Location: Clemson, South Carolina
Application: Workout Facility

About the Project: Clemson’s football operation facility sets a new standard for the student-athlete experience. HOK worked on this project with GMC as architect of record and DPR as contractor. The complex includes 1.5 acres of outdoor leisure space and state-of-the-art training facilities. A total of 65 customized linear drains with tile-in features were provided at different lengths for the locker rooms, spa, and pool areas to achieve level floor access and maintain safety.

GOVERNMENT PROJECTS

Buildings owned by federal, state, or local governments often require adherence to different standards than are used in the private sector. The General Services Administration (GSA), for example, which has broad oversight of the design, construction, and operation of many federal buildings, has a current standard titled the Architectural Barriers Act Accessibility Standard (ABAAS). According to their website: “ABAAS was made effective May 9, 2006, for new construction and alterations, June 30, 2006, for lease-construction facilities, and February 7, 2007, for all other leased facilities. ABAAS replaces the Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards (UFAS), which was GSA's previous standard for accessibility.”

Many government facilities have adopted at least the intent of the GSA standards, if not the same criteria. “It is GSA's policy to make all federal buildings accessible without the use of special facilities for persons with disabilities. The intent of this policy is to use standard building products set at prescribed heights and with prescribed maneuvering clearances to allow easy use by employees and visitors with disabilities.” This intent echoes the philosophy and purpose of Universal Design in that buildings should be accessible to all people without needing to construct extra or separate facilities for compliance.

Government Project Example

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Scott County Government Center
Architect: Wold Architects & Engineers
Location: Shakopee, Minnesota
Application: Restroom Floor Drain

About the Project: Wold Architects & Engineers partnered with Scott County, Minnesota to construct a 145,000-square-foot addition and renovation of the existing Government and Justice Centers. The design includes placing all enclosed spaces at the building’s core to allow for natural light in and views out from accessible, public spaces around the perimeter. The public restrooms were a particular concern, so a range of architectural linear floor drains were incorporated to meet safety, accessibility, and cleanability objectives.

Transportation Projects

By definition, transportation facilities are intended to move people through them. In many cases, those people are carrying bags or wheeling luggage with them. In other cases, people who are not able to walk long distances will need wheeled transport to get through the facility and onto the mode of transportation being provided. A well-designed transportation facility is one that recognizes these particular needs and makes it very easy for all people to pass through them. Those that incorporate the principles of Universal Design in all areas can help make the facility feel welcoming, efficient, and inclusive for all users. This would include the entries, the paths of travel within the facility, and the support spaces such as restrooms, customer service desks, etc.

Transportation Project Example

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Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport
Architect: SP Architects, Inc.
Location: Baltimore
Application: Restroom Linear Floor Drain

About the Project: SP Architects, Inc. and the Maryland Aviation Administration (MAA) completed the new Concourse A expansion at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI). The restrooms have been updated to a new standard that will serve as template for planned bathroom renovations across the rest of the airport and combine some of the best design aspects from restrooms around the country and the world. Customized floor drains were used under the sinks and toilets for all of the restrooms so that they would be flush with the surface and not interfere with access or movement in the restrooms.

CONCLUSION

Universal Design has broad appeal and applicability in many different settings and building types. Specifying architectural linear drains is one significant example of providing appealing, well-performing solutions that are consistent with the principles of Universal Design. By using these principles and examples, buildings can be designed that are inclusive for people of all ability levels without sacrificing design intent and often without the need for special accommodations or features.

Peter J. Arsenault, FAIA, NCARB, LEED AP is a nationally known architect and a prolific author advancing positive acoustical experiences through better building design. www.pjaarch.com, www.linkedin.com/in/pjaarch