Accessible by Design: Innovative Approaches to Achieving Universal Design and ADA Compliance

Every environment has an innate characteristic and every human has innate or inherent behaviors. The responsibility of the architect to change environments goes beyond compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or numerous other minimal regulations (see side bar), and calls for design for social sustainability. The World Health Organization agrees and calls for mainstreaming the experience of disability and recognizing it as a universal human experience. They have redefined disability as a contextual phenomenon, dictated by the intersection of a person and his/her environment. Universal Design proponents see this movement as a framework for design and a challenge for designers in the 21st century. As a response to support the movement towards removing disabilities for all, industrial designers, product engineers and manufacturers are designing products that enhance experiences for people of all ages and abilities by design.

CELEBRATING HUMAN DIVERSITY
WITH ACCESSIBLE DESIGNS

This article will discuss some product innovations as a means of illustrating creative ways to meet current ADA requirements. In addition, we will look at means by which to design beyond ADA to address opportunities of multi-generational ergonomics using Universal Design principles. According to Josh Safdie, Assoc. AIA, the director of the Institute for Human Centered Design (IHCD) Studio, "There is a difference between following an ADA checklist and focusing a practice on Universal Design." He believes that "design powerfully and profoundly influences us and our sense of confidence, comfort and control. Variation in ability is ordinary, not special and it affects most of us for at least part of our lives." He and Gunnar Baldwin were both part of the panel on Universal Design at the 2011 AIA National Convention in New Orleans, where panelists discussed the numerous social, cultural and individual impediments that make the transition to Universal Design difficult for designers. Some of these impediments include preconceived attitudes about aging, the denial of the need to plan for aging, economics and regulations that address an aging population. Confronting issues of human usability requires an increased awareness of human abilities in order to develop new, focused Universal Design practices for the 21st century.

Universal Design solutions can be "invisible" and an accessible house can be a multi-story structure on an urban lot. Photo courtesy of Emory Baldwin, AIA

Undeniably, variation in ability becomes even more marked in the aging process. The ability to perform simple basic tasks, such as eating, dressing and bathing can affect the psychology and awareness of a person's value. A 91-year-old senior may be able to read books, magazines and newspapers on his iPad but not able to securely walk up and down steps to the upper level bathroom. According to Gunnar Baldwin, a water efficiency specialist at TOTO, "Bathroom experiences are the most frequent reasons people give up their independence. Once you can't wash yourself or use the toilet, the elderly begin to think about getting home care, someone to live with them or checking-in to a nursing home."

Gunnar Baldwin is also a former USGBC technical assistance water expert team member and has recently worked with the AIA to develop a new focus for architects to encourage the inclusion of socially sustainable design (the confluence of Universal Design and environmental sustainability) in architecture's mainstream best practices for good design. Designing for a continuum of human behavior and growth adds a new dimension to a design practice, one that requires an even greater attention to the saying often attributed to Mies Van Der Rohe: "God is in the details."

Disabilities that can create functional limitations for most adults include arthritis, back problems, diabetes, heart and respiratory disease. Designing for an average adult assumes that the two-thirds of the population that are either children or seniors will have only a short span of time in which to easily access most household equipment or have access to most public spaces. Design for human growth, physical variations and design for differing abilities is more than designing for accessibility.

Architects who were part of the massive changeover of buildings to meet ADA standards in the 1990s will remember that these guidelines were thought of then (and sometimes even today) as obtrusive rather than intrinsic to their design practices. Similar to what took place in the green product revolution, many of the early ADA-compliant products were considered unattractive and poorly built. Today, according to Charlie Livers, vice president of Livers Bronze, "contractors sometimes own the power of purchasing an ADA product, and particularly with handrail selection, owners and architects can suffer. The end result may mean that the product may not match the aesthetics of the project or even worse, may not be built correctly and may be structurally unsound." A better solution would be that the design professional think about accessibility in the beginning of a project and specify products that meet Universal Design goals.

A floating glass ramp designed for Hallmark Cards at the Crown Center in Kansas City, Missouri, meets design criteria for both accessibility and aesthetics. Photo courtesy of Livers Bronze Co.

 

BATHROOM INDEPENDENCE

At the 2011 AIA convention one of the continuing education credits achievable was from a manufacturer that allowed individuals to don an "aging suit." Fogged, tinted goggles and earmuffs simulated restrictions in sight and hearing. Stiffened leggings, vest and armbands restrained movement and the ability to turn or bend. Webbed gloves with padded fingers quickly showed the impediments to touch, reach, and manipulation of buttons and knobs. After "suiting-up," the designer was asked to maneuver a bathroom designed to current ADA standards. With and without a wheelchair, lessons were quickly learned as to why these guidelines include such common details as the 19-in. toilet seat height, a 5-ft turning radius and front clearances for approaches to sinks.

A remote control is another means of providing independence without sacrificing the aesthetic design of the bathroom. Photo courtesy of TOTO

It is easy to understand why someone with a disability or who is elderly might be embarrassed to be assisted in the bathroom. One innovation in bath design includes the adaptable washlet that is designed to remove this lack of independence in the bathroom. A washlet is an electric toilet seat that can convert an existing or new conventional toilet to a bidet. A washlet has a warm water spray that provides washing and drying without the use of toilet paper. A washlet can also be added as a replacement seat to many existing toilets as long as they are dimensionally compatible. They require a standard electrical outlet, placed unobtrusively within 3 ft of a toilet.

There are many advantages to the washlet. It can be activated by sensors or by remote control that both open/close the lid as well as automatically flush the toilet. Those with restricted movements can choose front or rear cleansing, warm-air drying or even a massage by using an accessible LCD panel with large buttons or a wireless remote control. This affordable unit is available as part of a standard facility or residential renovation and provides another option for those wishing to stay independent for as long as possible.

Washlets are designed to save energy, conserve water and toilet paper. Energy-saving timers control the electrical output. A washlet uses less than a half gallon per day of water when used by a family of four and when combined with a high-efficiency toilet (HET) increases water conservation. (HETs exceed the standards that should be met for true water savings and flush using at least 20 percent less water than is mandated by law.) In comparison, the same family of four would use up to 183 rolls of toilet paper a year which amounts to 1.3 trees and 732 gallons of water as one roll equals four gallons of water use. By using a washlet, users reduce the use of toilet paper, conserve water and save energy.

Universal Design is not just for the aging. New products that make the bathroom safer for all users include wireless sensors for lavs and showers. Wireless remote controls allow for hands-free operation particularly useful for wheelchair users. Remotes can easily be operated from wheelchairs or attached to the rear or side of the bathroom wall that can be reached with an elbow, a knee or a foot. A remote control is another means of providing independence without sacrificing the aesthetic design of the bathroom.

A bathroom designed for independent living includes curbless showers with offset controls, a washlet and removable under-counter cabinets. Photo courtesy of Emory Baldwin, AIA

HANDRAILS — APPEARANCE AND STRENGTH

About one-fifth of the U.S. population is expected to be 65 or older by the year 2030. As they age, these baby boomers are beginning to seek advice about continuum of care for their parents. They are also thinking about how to renovate their homes and offices as they age and wish to maintain independence. Although there are federal mandates and many accessibility guidelines, there are also many psychological barriers by owners and resistance by designers for the perceived limits on aesthetics by barrier free design. Examples of these products are the many handrails that were manufactured quickly in the 1990s to meet the market for new regulations. They were unattractive, mass-produced, and poorly engineered pieces that were assembled onsite by contractors. New handrails are available that are engineered as a system and deliver high-end design details.

Innovative by design, stair design rails and panels chosen as part of a system include the assurance that one person will review the entire process. Photo courtesy of Livers Bronze Co.

 

Custom handrails include profiles, details and connections that can be used in both modern and traditional designs. Photo courtesy of Livers Bronze Co.

There are structural and aesthetic advantages to choosing a handrail that is not a collection of puzzle pieces to be assembled on the jobsite. Rails that meet the current 2010 Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG) requirements should be pre-engineered as a whole component, including the mounting brackets and rail supports. Innovations in glass rail systems mean that designers can choose the elegance of a rail with tempered glass panels that includes side mounted railings and brackets. New choices include the option to mount glass panels on aluminum or steel bases and float them on high-strength machine mounting brackets with required ADAAG clearances. All handrails and rail systems need to meet the ASTM935 and 985 standards that designate both the loading and performance requirements as outlined in the 2006 International Building Code.

When the designer selects a rail as a system, pre-engineering is included as necessary for the specific location. The system is tested both for the strength of individual components as well as a total unit. In addition, one person is responsible for both engineering, quality and accessibility requirements providing an assurance to owners that the product will meet code and be durable and easy to maintain.

Custom handrails include profiles, details and connections that can be used in both modern and traditional designs. Choices for rail materials and finishes have expanded to almost any material - metals, stainless steel, bronze, aluminum, wood. The finishes not only include powder-coated metal, stainless steel, bronze and wood, but also can be specified with materials with recycled content or certified forest products. When specifying wood, the professional should review the selected products carefully rather than assuming the rail can be placed into any wall-mounting bracket. A rail purchased from a millwork supplier may not meet the engineering required for the installation. It may also need additional mounting hardware to be used safely. New railing systems can also be designed or specified to be demountable and can be relocated or re-used as part of an environmental goal for flexibility and reuse.

Custom rails have highly detailed connections and are engineered as a complete structural system. Photo courtesy of Livers Bronze Co.

Designing for all requires not just removing the impediments in buildings, but also an analysis of the usability of the environment. Buildings should be sized and evaluated for approach, visitability and simple intuitive use. Sites should be chosen near public transportation. Access to buildings should be welcoming and easy for all users, as an example, the designers might add a second child-height ramp rail that improves the safety and ability of young children to walk without assistance. As with other aspects of sustainable design, Universal Design requires the perception of design as a system of interrelated pieces. Non-slip flooring, adequate lighting, designation of the change in surfaces through color accents are elements that increase the abilities of more users to navigate through the designed environment.

SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY

Proponents of Universal Design are beginning to connect accessibility for all as part of a sustainable initiative. Projects like the Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital are reaching for social sustainability targets by using Universal Design principles. Social sustainability has a theoretical basis derived from some of the earliest international discussions about sustainability initiatives. In the 1980s the Brundtland Commission was convened by the United Nations to address the growing acceleration of the deterioration of the human environment, natural resources and the economic consequences for worldwide economic and social development. The Brundtland Report of 1987 was the first articulation of the evaluation of any proposed sustainable initiative as an interaction of ecology/environment, economy/employment and equity/equality. The Brundtland Report defines sustainable development as, "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." Universal Design principles create a framework to remove barriers in the built environment to directly address both present and future needs of all individuals. As a new initiative the U.S. Green Building Council is currently reviewing a target credit for the application of Universal Design principles as part of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) 3.0.

 

Building sites should be near accessible transportation and design professionals should ensure that every space in the office is accessible. Image courtesy of Institute for Human Centered Design

 

Today, many architects, product designers, engineers and environmental design researchers have collaborated to establish seven principles of Universal Design available to a wide range of design disciplines. These principles can be downloaded in numerous languages and used to evaluate existing designs, guide the design process and educate designers and consumers about the characteristics of more usable products and environments (see side bar). Buildings should relate all of the five senses that need to be engaged to navigate interior and exterior environments by individuals with wide ranges of height and weight as well as age. They should be planned on accessible sites and part of new mobility transit networks.

Designers and architects are providing Universal Design services using these principles as a framework to guide design development with owners and other architects that are inclusive of ADA but go beyond to provide new designs using innovative new products that can remove barriers. Researchers are beginning to evaluate and review the basics of federal and state accessibility laws here in the U.S. This review and consideration of the principles of Universal Design–their origin, significance and application–will allow them to establish the crucial links between disability, aging, public health and the built environment in the U.S. and abroad. They are considering new initiatives that might include additional regulatory policies as well as possible tax incentives. The goal is to plan for a future that enables all individuals and increases the diversity of the built environment.

Janet L. Witkin Center, West Hollywood, California

The Janet L. Witkin Center, in West Hollywood, California is targeted to be built to LEED® Platinum standards as well as to meet Universal Design best practices. Photo courtesy of Killefer Flammang Architects Designed by Killefer Flammang Architects, the Janet L. Witkin Center in West Hollywood, California is an affordable senior housing project comprised of 17 one-bedroom apartments, community rooms and support offices. The challenge of this project included how to incorporate a critical community space on a small site. To encourage social interaction, a large central community room was designed at the ground floor to open up to the central south-facing courtyard to create a light and airy space. To increase accessibility and to meet Universal Design principles, unique accent colors and materials at different floors create recognizable visual and tactile cues that assist with visual orientation throughout the project. An expanded walkway serves as a gathering place near the communal laundries at each floor and affords an overlook to the tenant courtyard below. Windows at the street side of the space create a connection with the outside neighborhood. A "front porch" patio adjacent to the sidewalk and overlooking shared balconies above give the building a direct connection to the streetscape. At the top floor, the building mass steps back at the street side to allow for a large open community garden at the 4th floor. The apartments are laid out in two groups, and the unit entries are clustered to promote resident awareness and interaction with immediate neighbors. Accessible design elements throughout the project were designed to make the daily lives of each tenant easier. Roll-in showers with grab bars and seats, and sliding pocket doors are incorporated throughout the units as well as highly energy efficient toilets mounted at universal heights. The project has a Platinum LEED certification goal and will include solar hot water heaters, highly efficient HVAC systems, and recycled building materials. Permeable paving and native plantings were incorporated into the design to reduce water runoff and consumption. The courtyard, open walkway and units were oriented to the south to receive natural light and warmth as part of a passive design strategy.

Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Charlestown, Massachusetts

Image courtesy of Perkins + Will Passionate about rehabilitative care as well as regenerative design, the owners of the Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Charlestown, Massachusetts initiated the discussion of Universal Design with its architects. They wanted a design that wasn't just about the physical attributes of accessibility, such that might be mandated through compliance with the ADA. They wanted the designers to create spaces that didn't differentiate based on disabilities but rather, differing abilities–whether it is a wheelchair user or someone with a hearing aid. For example, although the first floor of the facility was mandated to be accessible to public visitors, this new hospital encourages both the public as well as the patients to use the resource rooms, conference center facilities, cafeteria and meditation room. The owners required a design that encouraged the use and interaction of these spaces to build community, one that blurred the line between public and private spaces in the hospital. A simulation of this hospital room was tested by end users and reviewed by many clinicians, therapists, physicians, and advocacy groups as part of the design process. Image courtesy of Perkins + Will The Institute for Human Centered Design was invited by Partners HealthCare to be a key participant in design and programming decisions from the earliest stages of the project. Josh Safdie worked directly with the team of owners, consultants, architects, and landscape architects to help guide a two-year process of incorporating principles of Universal Design into every aspect of the project, from site planning to materials selection. This process included regular design and specification reviews, conversations with key stakeholders, and "user-expert" reviews and simulations of full-scale mock-ups. These simulations included exercises in which every design team member was placed in a wheelchair and asked to navigate the cafeteria and patient rooms. From this experience, designers learned valuable lessons about using a bathroom, reaching controls and the need for wheelchair parking spaces in waiting areas. They visited a local donut shop and learned just how difficult it was to juggle a tray and a beverage on a wheelchair in public. They navigated through a downtown street and began to understand both the physical and psychological issues facing those in wheelchairs who are more often than not ignored or avoided in public. The architects at Perkins + Will were able to achieve their Universal Design goals by involving the Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital's clinicians, therapists, physicians, and advocacy groups through the design and mockup process. They are currently on their third millwork mockup based on design guidance by Laurence J. Brennan, Development Officer, Donor Relations for Massachusetts General Hospital and Elizabeth Pillsbury Disabilities Resource Coordinator. These end users were key to the design process. They evaluated the patient room mockups and bathrooms from an end user's perspective. Jessica Stebbins, IIDA LEED AP BD+C associate principal and healthcare market sector leader at Perkins + Will, comments, "Through this prototype process, we were able to capture real-time data which has informed and evolved the design of the facility throughout the design process."

Case Study: Adding Value — Universal Design

Architect Emory Baldwin, AIA, knew that he wanted his new Seattle, three-story home to be designed to respond to the various changes people may experience over the course of their lives. He designed it to demonstrate that Universal Design need not appear ugly or institutional, but rather be beautiful and marketable to a broad cross section of the population. It is meant to show that Universal Design solutions can be "invisible" and his home blends in with the rest of the neighborhood without appearing unusual in any way. This house also demonstrates that an accessible house can be a multi-story structure on an urban lot, and need not be a single-level rambler in the suburbs. Gently sloping, accessible paths connect the main floor to the front sidewalk, and the basement to the rear alley. All doors are wide (3 ft-0 in.) for enhanced maneuverability, and the house has many other universally designed features, including level thresholds at all exterior doors, lever handles and curb-less showers. All bathrooms have base cabinets on lockable casters that roll away to allow greater accessibility. Toilets are fitted with washlet seats mounted at a 19-in. height. Three stacking closets are framed, sized and wired for a future elevator so that the house can accommodate the resident's changing needs and abilities down the road. The upper level of the stacking closets is currently used as a "reading nook" for bedtime stories, while bonus storage for large items such as tricycles and strollers is currently provided at the main floor level. The house also incorporates flexible spaces to allow for the changing requirements of its homeowner over time. There is a large vertical open space above the dining room on the main floor. The structure of the sidewalls of this space is framed to accommodate another room to infill the upstairs portion of the space, should it ever be needed in the future. Additionally, the basement is designed for multiple uses such as a mother-in-law apartment, home office, or rental unit. This flexibility allows the home to be dynamic, and able to fulfill a multitude of purposes. It also allows for greater diversity of household composition, making the home marketable to a larger percentage of homebuyers. The architect comments, "By designing flexibility into a home, it remains appropriate for multiple life transitions and prevents the resident's need to move or sell their home in a poor real estate market. It also allows a homeowner to offset housing costs by renting out part of the home when it is not needed. This increases both the longevity of use and the marketability of the home." By incorporating many features of Universal Design and flexibility, this home accommodates not only the physiological and psychological changes that an individual might experience in their lifetime, but also the various socioeconomic changes that the family or household is likely to experience over time. This socially sustainable approach accommodates today's increasingly diverse household compositions, and functions well for people of all ages and abilities. Such a home enables its residents to retain their independence, as they grow older and "age-in-place" on their own terms.

This bathroom was designed with an under cabinet that can be rolled away on castors for wheelchair users. Photos courtesy of Emory Baldwin, AIA

 

Architect Celeste Allen Novak, AIA, LEED AP, specializes in sustainable design and planning in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

 

CONTENT DEVELOPER INFORMATION - Knowledge & Experience Background in Disability Access Requirements:

For over twenty-five years, Celeste Allen Novak, AIA, LEED AP has designed numerous homes, multifamily housing and commercial structures, to meet ADA and universal design principles. In 2008, she received honors for innovative design in the Urban Site Category of the National Green House Nursing Home Design Charrette. Addressing accessibility for seniors as well as for physically handicapped residents, this project is published in the Green House Design Manual as well as was showcased at the 2008 International Environments for Aging Conference. As a writer, she has published continuing education articles that discuss new innovations for bathrooms and kitchens that meet the needs for people of all ages and abilities. Currently a member of the Heart Enrichment Advocates Team, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, she provides consulting services for families who need assistance with universal design. She also teaches as an adjunct professor in a graduate sustainable design studio at Lawrence Institute of Technology mandating ADA compliance in her student's work.

Course Provider: Architectural Record/McGraw-Hill Construction
Telephone: 212-904-2838

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Learning Objectives

At the end of this course you will be able to:

Discuss Universal Design principles and ADA compliance as part of a focused initiative for a design practice. Analyze products for the bath that promote independent living. Evaluate handrail systems with high aesthetic values that meet and/or exceed 2010 ADAAG regulations. Explain the relationship between Universal Design and social sustainability.

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