D E S I G N R E A L I Z AT I O N
material, sand, clay, silt, and any additives, the pH limits, and would specify such requirements as the absence of stones, rocks, twigs and other plant parts, and deleterious materials such as metal parts or rubbish.
Professional Responsibility: Protecting the Health, Safety, and Welfare of the Public The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), administered by the U.S. Department of Justice, promulgates design standards, providing for enforceable accessibility and barrier removal standards in public places and facilities.3 The published standards for accessible design apply to new construction and for older facilities undergoing updating and alterations. The design accessibility and barrier removal standards apply at the federal level with states and local governments having adopted similar standards. For example, access to public buildings or outdoor spaces must allow for wheelchair or other ambulatory considerations of the public. In order to comply, new designs must provide access ramps to enter the building or outdoor spaces. The ramps must conform to design standards of ramp length, width, and maximum slope. Where handrails are provided, they must conform to specific design standards. The general idea of the accessibility of design standards is to provide equal access to all populations. A facility that was designed providing wheelchair access other than at the front or main entrance may conform to the letter of the law; however, a building with a back or service access would be considered an insensitive design, creating a psychological barrier. Landscape architects must adhere to accessibility design standards for all design elements and project types, including parks, plazas, pedestrian circulation, children’s play areas, and all outdoor use areas and facilities. At the outset of a design project, a landscape architect must carry out due diligence4 to research all applicable laws and design standards to ensure their designs will conform. Landscape architects are expected to be familiar with and understand the pertinent laws and government requirements in carrying out their work. They are expected to know, for instance, the zoning laws, design standards, and other regulations including the following areas: 1. FEMA flood plain elevation criteria, including 100-year flood requirements. 2. Wetland protection requirements, including the design review process necessary to determine whether conformity has been achieved and approved. 3. Vehicular circulation design standards, including turning radii, roadway lane width, line-of-sight design standards, parking lot design, and other design metrics associated with the vehicular circulation systems. 4. Municipal zoning, including green laws (landscape requirements), building setbacks, parking lot provisions, and signage design standards. 5. Storm-water management design standards, including Best Management Practices (BMP) and Low Impact Design (LID). 185
