{"id":14595,"date":"2018-01-25T13:45:10","date_gmt":"2018-01-25T17:45:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.eraarch.ca\/?p=14595"},"modified":"2018-02-05T18:54:02","modified_gmt":"2018-02-05T22:54:02","slug":"in-house-experts-barrier-free-design-and-heritage-buildings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.eraarch.ca\/2018\/in-house-experts-barrier-free-design-and-heritage-buildings\/","title":{"rendered":"In-House Experts: Barrier-Free Design and Heritage Buildings"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n At ERA we thrive on finding new uses for existing buildings and integrating the heritage fabric of our city into contemporary designs. One of the ways we approach conservation of existing fabric is through modifications to buildings and cultural landscapes that enable all users to enjoy our shared heritage. Many heritage structures are not barrier-free by today\u2019s standards: the main entrances often are only accessible by stairs, they have heavy doors without automatic operators, the washrooms don\u2019t accommodate wheelchair users, the stairs don\u2019t have the tactile and colour-contrasting nosing that aid users with low-vision in navigating them.<\/p>\n Improving upon our heritage fabric to create a more accessible environment requires a careful and sensitive approach. Whereas a barrier-free approach to a new building design is integrated from the very beginning, a barrier-free retrofit requires considering the impact of the alterations on the historical features of the building: How can we position a new entrance ramp to minimize its visual impact? How can we modify existing doors to accommodate power door operators without damaging the existing fabric? How can we renovate an existing washroom to allow for universal access? What materials can we use to provide tactile and colour-contrasting nosing without negatively impacting a historical wood stair?<\/p>\n Two of our most recent projects in downtown Toronto feature smart designs that integrate barrier-free features into the existing fabric of heritage structures: the Sultan Street Development and 330 University Avenue.<\/p>\n