Accessibility Audit by Devyn Brown

ASSESSIBILITY AUDIT Central Michigan University Pearce Hall - Second Floor Devyn Brown and Tara Connelly

Department of Fashion, Interior Design & Merchandising Wightman 205

www.cmich.edu/colleges/ehs/program/id

Mount Pleasant, MI 48859

989-774-1830 interiordesign@cmich.edu

TABLE OF CONTENTS 2 .........Floor Plan and ADA Purpose 3 ........................Toilet Seat Height 4 ...........................Handrail Height 5 .............Unobstructed High Reach 6 ..........................Recessed Doors 7 ............................Door Hardware 8 .............................Turning Space 9 .................Bathroom Shelf Height 10 .....................................Pathway 11 .........Project Summary Statement 12 ..........Team Reflection Statement 13 .................................Appendix A Previous ADA Accessibility Audit

14 .................................Appendix A Previous ADA Accessibility Audit

15 .................................Appendix B ADA Checklist

PEARCE HALL - SECOND FLOOR

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA) The purpose of the ADA is to end discrimination for people with disabilities. Forty-three million Americans are disabled, and approximately two-thirds of those are unemployed. ADA guidelines were put in place to ensure those with sensory, manipulatory, and locomotor disabilities are able to integrate into mainstream American life.

TOILET SEAT HEIGHT Problem: The height of the toilet seat in the ADA water closet measures to be only 15 inches above the finished floor.

ADA Guidelines: 604.4 Seats. The seat height of a water closet above the finish floor shall be 17 inches (430 mm) minimum and 19 inches (485 mm) maximum measured to the top of the seat. Seats shall not be sprung to return to a lifted position. Solution: Install a new toilet with a seat that sits 18 inches above the finished floor to create an easier transition for people in a wheelchair.

HANDRAIL HEIGHT Problem: The handrails for the stairs measure only 32 inches above the finished floor.

ADA Guidelines: 505.4 Height. Top of gripping surfaces of handrails shall be 34 inches (865 mm) minimum and 38 inches (965 mm) maximum vertically above walking surfaces, stair nosings, and ramp surfaces. Handrails shall be at a consistent height above walking surfaces, stair nosings, and ramp surfaces. Solution: Install a new handrail that measures 36 inches above the finished floor.

UNOBSTRUCTED HIGH REACH Problem: The fire alarms, pencil sharpeners, and thermostats are located approximately 60 inches above the finished floor.

ADA Guidelines: 308.2.1 Unobstructed. Where a forward reach is unobstructed, the high forward reach shall be 48 inches (1220 mm) maximum and the low forward reach shall be 15 inches (380 mm) minimum above the finished floor or ground. Fire Alarm

Pencil Sharpener & Thermostat

Solution: Reinstall these utilities to be 48 inches above the finished floor.

RECESSED DOORS Problem: Space between door openings and perpendicular wall is only 4”.

ADA Guidelines: 404.2.4.3 Recessed Doors and Gates. Maneuvering clearances for forward approach shall be provided when any obstruction within 18 inches (455 mm) of the latch side of a doorway projects more than 8 inches (205 mm) beyond the face of the door, measured perpendicular to the face of the door or gate.

Solution: Remove 14 inches of the wall, on the side in which the door opens, in order to have 18 inches clearance.

DOOR HARDWARE Problem: All office doors and utility rooms have round door knobs.

ADA Guidelines: 404.2.7 Door and Gate Hardware. Advisory 404.2.7 Door and Gate Hardware. Door hardware that can be operated with a closed fist or a loose grip accommodates the greatest range of users. Hardware that requires simultaneous hand and finger movements require greater dexterity and coordination, and is not recommended.

Solution: Reinstall with the same levered door hardware used for the classrooms in the building.

TURNING SPACE Problem: When entering into a classroom, a table is located 28 inches in front of the door opening.

ADA Guidelines: 304.3.2 T-Shaped Space. The turning space shall be a Tshaped space within a 60 inch (1525 mm) square minimum with arms and base 36 inches (915 mm) wide minimum. Each arm of the T shall be clear of obstructions 12 inches (305 mm) minimum in each direction and the base shall be clear of obstructions 24 inches (610 mm) minimum. The space shall be permitted to include knee and toe clearance complying with 306 only at the end of either the base or one arm. Solution: Move the table so that it is at least 36 inches away from the doorway opening to allow for adequate clear space for turning in a wheelchair.

BATHROOM SHELF Problem: The surface of the bathroom shelf is located 51 inches above the finished floor.

ADA Guidelines: 603 Toilet and Bathing Rooms 603.4 Coat Hooks and Shelves. Coat hooks shall be located within one of the reach ranges specified in 308. Shelves shall be located 40 inches (1015 mm) minimum and 48 inches (1220 mm) maximum above the finished floor. Solution: Lower the shelf to be 45 inches above the finished floor.

PATHWAYS Problem: Pathways between desks in classrooms were between 18 and 25 inches in width.

ADA Guidelines: 403.5.1 Clear Width. Except as provided in 403.5.2 and 403.5.3, the clear width of walking surfaces shall be 36 inches (915 mm) minimum. Solution: Rearrange desks (and possibly reduce the number in each classroom) so there is at least 36 inches clearance between them.

PROJECT SUMMARY During this project, we as a team made our way up to the second floor of Pearce Hall at Central Michigan University's main campus. We took turns in a wheelchair going through typical, day-to-day tasks expected of an individual using that space, most likely a student or faculty member. Throughout our time, we found several areas within the space that do not satisfy the guidelines for accessibility. These were elements that would cause potential hardships, and in some cases, danger for people with and without disabilities. We then looked to find solutions to these problems in order to meet the established ADA guidelines. The overall intent of this project was to look into a space and find that many buildings do not meet the ADA guidelines. The types of problems we found could make it difficult, and in some cases, impossible for a person with a disability to access certain utilities.

TEAM REFLECTION STATEMENTS Tara: “Throughout doing this project I have learned so much. For one, I put myself in the shoes of someone in a wheelchair who faces difficulties doing everyday tasks and maneuvering around a public space that should accommodate everyone. I was able to see that there are so many design problems throughout public buildings even if some are very small elements. It was important for me to realize that designers need to do better in order to integrate inclusion in a space for all people, especially those with disabilities." Devyn: "This project reminded me how small changes can have such a big impact. One example of this was the door knobs leading to the floor's offices. A staff member who may not have full mobility of their hands might have a difficult time accessing their workspace, while the designer of that building could have easily just made the decision to use levered door handles instead. As a designer, it is important to keep these guidelines in mind for every part of a building project. They were established for a reason."

APPENDIX A

APPENDIX B