Disability Rights and Resources Incorporates Universal Design Features

This 8,000 s.f. building now serves as the headquarters of Disability Rights and Resources to provide independent living services to people with disabilities and for future exhibits and interpretive displays.   Programs will be developed according to universal design principles.  Focus will be on highlighting the disability rights movement in Alabama and the United States. This facility is a gem on the civil rights trail, across from the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, and will serve as a model for buildings throughout the region.  All was synthesized into the overall design so no one element sticks out as just for people with disabilities.  This is also a green project that re-purposes a former residential and commercial site.

The Architect and Project Designer is Cohen Carnaggio Reynolds.  Accessibility Consultant is Hecker Design, and Landscape Architect is Macknally Ross Land Design.  The building contractor is Stewart Perry.  Office furniture was provided by Office Environments.

Universal design is the design of products and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design.  Universal design is design for the comfort of everyone, not only those with disabilities.

Below are some of the elements of universal design that were incorporated into the building project.

1.  Flush transition between parking spaces and sidewalk, eliminates the need for curb ramps.

2.  Passenger loading zone at front door..a flush transition between passenger loading zone and front door approach walk, eliminating the need for a curb ramp.

3.  Placement of truncated domes as a tactile and visual clue not only for blind pedestrians, but to aid drivers in positioning their cars in parking spaces so they do not hit the vertical bollards.

4.  Installed custom automatic doors that can be operated that can be operated by hand or by a footrest of a power wheelchair, or someone carrying a package.

5.  Green metal canopy over the front and rear doors ties into the lobby so that people with low vision have an additional directional cue to the center’s reception desk.

6.  Specified thin wall mounted big screen TV’s will be installed so they would not present a hazard for blind and visually impaired visitors approaching the reception area.

7.      Motion control lighting is not only more convenient for people with certain mobility impairments, it will result in reduced energy costs.

8.  Provided a floor mounted urinal in the men’s public restroom that will aid wheelchair users with personal hygiene.  This also assists children use the urinal.

9.  Provided 5 different accessible toilets so disabled users who may prefer to transfer from one side of the wheelchair or the other will have the choice of which toilet to use.

10.  Quiet room for people who may be experiencing migraine headaches, stress, and similar conditions.    This room is equipped with sound deadening insulation and an accessible daybed.  The room also offers a large single user restroom.  Individuals who benefit from personal assistance have greater flexibility and privacy.  The room is also a private place for mothers to breastfeed or use a breast pump.

11.  Universally designed teaching kitchen that has countertops for a wide range of users.  Installed the dining counter with special cane detectable rails to minimize the likelihood that blind users would run into the exposed corners of the counters.  These railings are 4” below the bar countertop and back 4” from the counter edge to be cane detectable.

12.  Planter in the patio to increase recreational opportunities for individuals with an interest in gardening.  Height of the planter is within convenient reach range of people who use wheelchairs or sit on a stool while tending the garden.  Users may sit on the brick ledge surrounding the raised planters

13.  Adjustable height workstations to accommodate people of different sizes and people who use various mobility devices.  Open office furniture allows staff that uses sign language to communicate can do so across the room.

14.  Installed more accessible doors to have the same or greater options to get out of the building in case of an emergency.

15.  Passive day lighting around the office area so people on the interior can see the outdoors from the central administrative office, technology lab, kitchen, board room, and conference room.

16.  Windows in office, kitchen, technology lab, board room, and conference room allow for easier communication and collaboration, regardless of disability.

17.  Site selection—selected a site that will allow for a one story facility, not requiring ramps, steps, or platform lift, making easier access for all.  Building is located on bus route.

18.  HVAC—zoned in order to accommodate the climate needs of a wide variety of staff and visitors.

19.  Use of stained concrete is amenable to wheelchair users.  Used low-pile, level-looped carpeting easier for wheelchair users to move on than cut-pile carpet.

20.  Minimized level changes between floor finishes and have gently sloped transitions where there is change in floor finishes.

21.  Installed pantry units to insure the greatest amount of storage and ease of access for users of all heights.

22.  Configured the building with the reception area and lobby positions between the accessible passenger loading zones in the east and the accessible parking to the west.  This offers a greater opportunity to serve visitors regardless of method they take to arrive at the center, and provides a greater sense of security because both entrances can be seen at the same time.

23.  Public sidewalk is flush with driveways serving the front entrance.  No additional curb ramps would be required for pedestrians.  To eliminate the 4 curb ramps that would have been required where the public sidewalk along 15^th street crosses the approach driveways at the front entrance, we poured a flush transition between the concrete sidewalks and asphalt driveways, while retaining safe separation of pedestrian routes of vehicles through the use of strategically place bollards.

24.  Light switches in the multi-purpose room are positioned to allow for greater than normal flexibility in lighting controls.

25.  Table in board room is round and will accommodate a variety of wheelchair users and will normalize the typical hierarchy associated with corporate conference tables, and will provide for more efficient communication among meeting participants, including individuals with hearing impairments who may relying upon assistive technology and interpreters.

26.  Reception area and circulation space (corridor) between board room and multi-purpose room are wide enough to display the history of disability rights.  Allows for more convenient circulation for people with all types of abilities.