Going Above and Beyond with ADA
1 AIA LU/HSW; *1 ADA State Accessibility/Barrier-Free; 0.1 ICC CEU; 0.1 IACET CEU*; 1 AIBD P-CE; AAA 1 Structured Learning Hour; This course can be self-reported to the AANB, as per their CE Guidelines; AAPEI 1 Structured Learning Hour; This course can be self-reported to the AIBC, as per their CE Guidelines.; MAA 1 Structured Learning Hour; This course can be self-reported to the NLAA.; This course can be self-reported to the NSAA; NWTAA 1 Structured Learning Hour; OAA 1 Learning Hour; SAA 1 Hour of Core Learning
Learning Objectives:
- Describe the concept of universal design and how the seven guiding principles can impact the health and safety of occupants in the built environment.
- Discuss the role signage plays in ADA compliance in supporting the well-being of people with disabilities.
- List the emotional benefits of incorporating biophilia into the design of signage, wall protection, and art for occupants of all ages.
- Explain how elements like cordless blinds and inclusive gender neutral bathrooms can create a more welcoming and accessible space for occupants and visitors.
This course is part of the ADA Academy
This new bathroom design can be cost-effective in the long term. It will generate bathrooms that not only will take up less space by having to account for only one restroom section instead of two, but fewer fixtures and fittings such as lights, sinks, toilets, and urinals would considerably decrease the amount of time and money spent cleaning and maintaining them.
The visibility of the bathrooms will vary, but the main differentiator is that individual doors will be seen, versus a single door leading into a traditional bathroom. However, wherein conventional-style bathrooms have toilet partitions with visible gaps above, below, and in between, these privately enclosed toilet rooms will not. Instead, each room ensures a significant increase in privacy with a single toilet per room, similar to a single-family, ADA restroom found in other commercial spaces. Additionally, this eliminates the need for gender-specific bathrooms.
Floor-to-ceiling walls would replace toilet partitions. That does propose a higher up-front cost, but schools can save in the long run as less frequent replacements will need to be made over the years, and damage will be decreased.
Importantly, the building materials specified for elements including signage, solid surfaces, and wall protection must be able to withstand the commercial challenges a school setting will demand. Different budgets and needs will require different material options.
Being a student can mean anything from being under the care of someone who isn’t a guardian for the first time while in kindergarten, to living out of the house for the first time in college, not to mention all the physical, social, and emotional growth that happens in-between. Updated bathroom designs afford students privacy and feelings of safety as they navigate these life changes.
Creating “Emotionally Safe” Spaces through Interior Design
Emotional safety is important for students, as well as for people receiving mental health treatment, or groups of people who may need additional psychological and emotional care, including people in recovery or veterans.
“Emotionally safe spaces” refer to environments where individuals feel secure, supported, and comfortable expressing their emotions without fear of judgment or harm. These spaces are designed to promote mental well-being, reduce stress, and provide a sense of refuge for individuals experiencing emotional distress.
Photo courtesy of Inpro
Art can serve as a powerful medium for self-expression and communication, especially for people who may be dealing with or even trying to express complex emotions and experiences.
In emotionally safe spaces, people feel supported, validated, and understood. They are free to be authentic and vulnerable without the fear of being criticized or marginalized. These spaces can exist in various settings, including classrooms, workplaces, support groups, therapy sessions, and social gatherings. The term “safe space” often refers to an emotional space created between people, but architects can help promote these social interactions through thoughtful interior design.
Some design features to consider include comfortable and soft furnishings that create a sense of comfort and relaxation, natural or biophilic elements that help reduce stress, privacy, and seclusion that offer a quiet place to process stimuli, and flexible and adaptable spaces that can meet the changing needs of individuals experiencing emotional distress is essential.
Thoughtful wall art can instill a sense of emotional safety in a space. Wall art can transform a sterile and clinical space into a warm and inviting atmosphere. By carefully selecting art pieces that resonate with the experiences, emotions, and cultural backgrounds of the users, designers can create an environment that feels welcoming and supportive. The presence of art, especially in terms of color palettes and sensory designs, can help alleviate feelings of anxiety, stress, and isolation, fostering a sense of comfort and connection.
Art can serve as a powerful medium for self-expression and communication, especially for people who may be dealing with or even trying to express complex emotions and experiences. By displaying various forms of art such as paintings, sculptures, or photography, students and others are encouraged to express their thoughts and emotions in a non-verbal manner. This creative expression can facilitate personal reflection, promote emotional healing, and encourage communication.
Art can also offer a positive distraction from any discomfort a person may be feeling. Engaging with art stimulates the mind, shifting the focus away from distressing thoughts and experiences. On the flip side of that coin, art also has the power to evoke a range of emotions and promote mindfulness. Strategically placed art pieces in common areas or quiet spaces provide moments of mindful observation and reflection for occupants.
The inclusion of wall art can enhance the therapeutic environment and create emotionally safe spaces. Through its ability to create a welcoming atmosphere, facilitate emotional expression, stimulate positive distractions, encourage mindfulness, and foster social connection, art becomes a valuable tool in promoting wellness.
CONCLUSION
People in the U.S. and Europe spend about 90% of their time indoors13. The outdoors offers an escape from stressful moments in a world that is becoming increasingly urban and digital, and that is vying for our limited attention in different ways. As this trend continues, spaces that create a sense of wellness will become more popular, and it’s up to architects to design them.
Wellness comes in many forms via many avenues. A full picture of wellness includes physical, mental, and emotional health for people with various physical and mental abilities and across all ages. Compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, a civil rights law, ensures that structures allow equal access to buildings, as well as equal access to the information needed to navigate them.
The concept of universal design goes beyond ADA mandates to offer a bigger perspective on guidelines for creating spaces accessible to everyone. Architects and designers can lean into those guidelines to think futuristically about the ways access might change in the future, based on a changing population with modern needs utilizing the interior of a building, as well as an environment that may be changing and affecting the exterior of a structure.
Moving beyond the physical demands of a space, several strategies can help hit the emotional tone a space requires, depending on its use. Biophilic designs, which can be perceived visually, auditorily, or tactilely, offer both emotional benefits as well as measurable mental and physical health benefits to occupants. These designs can be implemented into both the structural elements and the interior design of a building.
Architects can benefit from learning about new safety legislation–as with the move toward cordless window coverings introduced by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission–and current wellness trends among potential building occupants, understanding new trends as they arise, and possibly predicting new ones. Designing around these various dimensions of wellness shows both clients and occupants that the architects care about the spaces they’re creating and the experiences people will have in them.
No matter the function of a building, if a person leaving feels happy to return later, the designers and architects have succeeded.
SOURCES
1 https://dac.berkeley.edu/services/campus-building-accessibility/universal-design-principles
2 https://ugreen.io/what-is-universal-design-a-guide-for-architects-and-designers/
3 https://www.archives.gov/calendar/ada25
4 https://www.ada.gov/topics/intro-to-ada/
5 https://www.wbdg.org/design-objectives/accessible/history-accessible-facility-design
6 https://www.cdc.gov/visionhealth/vehss/estimates/vision-loss-prevalence
7 https://www.terrapinbrightgreen.com/reports/14-patterns/
8 https://www.terrapinbrightgreen.com/reports/14-patterns/
9 https://www.terrapinbrightgreen.com/reports/14-patterns/
10 https://www.terrapinbrightgreen.com/reports/14-patterns/
11 https://www.cpsc.gov/gocordless
12 https://www.cpsc.gov/Newsroom/News-Releases/2023/PSC
13 https://www.fastcompany.com/90506856
Andrew A Hunt is Vice President of Confluence Communications and specializes in writing, design, and production of articles and presentations related to sustainable design in the built environment. In addition to instructional design, writing, and project management, Andrew is an accomplished musician and voice over actor, providing score and narration in both the entertainment and education arena.
www.confluencec.com, LinkedIn