Designing Beyond ADA standards

As we design spaces that shape lives and communities for the better, we focus on creating inclusive and comfortable environments where all students, staff, and community members feel welcome and supported. Our team adheres to ADA standards to ensure facilities are physically accessible to people with a range of physical abilities. However, we don’t stop there; we strive to exceed these standards, creating even more accessible and welcoming environments.

National Disability Independence Day, celebrated on July 26, commemorates the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This day holds special significance for us as we design facilities with accessibility and inclusivity in mind.

“The ADA Standards for Accessible Design – along with the Title II and Title III regulations – say what is required for a building or facility to be physically accessible to people with disabilities.”

– ADA.gov

Designing spaces that meet and exceed ADA standards starts with conducting thorough assessments of existing buildings to ensure the facilities adhere to these standards. Our facility assessment document provides a comprehensive analysis of a client’s building(s), pinpointing areas that fall short of ADA standards. The detailed evaluation serves as the foundation for our team to brainstorm and implement ADA solutions tailored to the facility.

Throughout the design process, we look at each space and see how ADA standard elements can be integrated seamlessly into the space to create a similar experience for those with disabilities. As a leader in educational design, we create facilities that foster inclusivity and functionality, accommodating diverse needs to provide an equitable learning environment for everyone. “Ensuring that students receive as similar experience as possible is the difference between designing to the minimal ADA standards and going beyond to create an equitable experience for those students who might need accommodations,” said Kate Egan, design specialist, architect + associate at Bray Architects.

Examples of how we create a similar experience for those with disabilities:

• Locating elevators in public areas of a building (where possible)
• Integrating spots for wheelchairs in learning stairs and other collaborative spaces
• Designing music classrooms without built-in tiers
• Locating auditorium handicapped seats with several seating options and locations
• Ensuring all science labs, FACE rooms, and art classrooms have an ADA-compliant station and accessible sink

JC McKenna Middle School in Evansville, WI, features a facility that is ADA-accessible and much more. Through educational visioning and programming, we created a building layout with students and staff with disabilities in mind. “It was important that we went ‘above and beyond’ the ADA standards at JC McKenna. We did so by integrating classrooms that serve students with the highest needs into the core academic neighborhoods, providing additional furniture options located alongside their peers, and designing larger toileting/changing facilities to allow teachers to assist students better. Additionally, the floor plan was laid out in a way that was easy to navigate for all students regardless of ability with a straightforward main corridor,” said Maria Welch, design specialist, architect + associate at Bray Architects.

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